Tianjin
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North China (华北) » Tianjin (天津) » Tianjin (天津)
[edit] Overview
Tianjin is one of the four provincial-level municipalities (along with Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing) in China. It is the largest port city in north China, and one of the first modern coastal cities opening up to international trade.
Tianjin has a population of 10.75 million and covers area of 11,760 sq km.
Tianjin is only 137 kilometers (85 miles), or about 1.5 hours from Beijing, the capital city of China.
[edit] History
The word "Tianjin" means a place where the emperor passes by boat. Tianjin was also called as Jingu, Jinmen in its early days. It came into existence during the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) after the opening of the Grand Canal. Tianjin in its earliest days is the area where the south and north section of the Grand Canal connects.
After mid-Tang Dynasty, Tianjin became an important port city where products like rice, silk were passed from the South. A Zhigu Village was set up in the Jin Dynasty, and a "sea-town" was established during the Yuan Dynasty. It subsequently became a military stronghold and food transit centre. The name of Tianjin was first seen in 1403 when Zhudi of the Ming Dynasty crossed the river here to conquer the southern part of China. So Tianjin has a history of over 600 years.
In 1860 western powers opened Tianjin to foreign trade. Soon Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Russia and some other countries established self-contained concessions in Tianjin, which soon became the forefront of Modern China's "Westernization" movement. Tianjin once led China in the areas of military modernization, railway construction, telegraph, telephone, postal services, mining, modern education, and justice system. It was then the second largest industrial city and the largest financial and commercial centre in North China.
The Pingjin (Beiping-Tianjin) Campaign between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Government, happened in the vicinity of Tianjin between November 29, 1948, and January 31, 1949.
Today Tianjin is north China's shipping and industrial center.
[edit] Map
Click here to open Tianjin map.
[edit] Weather
Located in the warm temperate zone, Tianjin has sub-humidcontinental monsoon climate.As it is influenced by the seaand ocean in summer and by the continent in winter, the four seasons here are clear cut,which results in a great variety of temperature through out the year. The average temperature in a year is 11.1–12.0 . The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of less than -4 ; the hottest month is July,with an average temperature of about 26 . On average, the frost-free period lasts about 200 days. The annual precipitationis between 550 and 680 mm, 75% of which occurs in June, Julyand August. The sunshine time in the city is relatively long: 1,921.0–2,852.0 hours per year. The average wind speed throughout the year is 2.5 m/s.
| Weather averages for Tianjin | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 2 (36) | 6 (43) | 12 (54) | 20 (68) | 26 (79) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 26 (79) | 20 (68) | 10 (50) | 4 (39) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | -7 (19) | -4 (25) | 2 (36) | 9 (48) | 15 (59) | 20 (68) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 17 (63) | 10 (50) | 1 (34) | -5 (23) | |
| Rain cm (inches) | 0.21 (0.1) | 0.29 (0.1) | 0.44 (0.2) | 1.81 (0.7) | 2.88 (1.1) | 5.88 (2.3) | 10.7 (4.2) | 9.18 (3.6) | 3.22 (1.3) | 2.14 (0.8) | 0.9 (0.4) | 0.15 (0.1) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Districts
[edit] Getting in & Getting out
[edit] By Air
Tianjin Binhai International Airport is only 13 km from the Tianjin's city center. It's located at Zhangguizhuang (张贵庄) of the Dongli District. The airport is an important hub for air transportation in North China. It has international flights, and is one of the largest modern airports in China.
Currently, Tianjin Airport has 81 domestic and international flights to 62 cities. There are more than 6 daily flights each to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Dalian, Seoul of South Korea.
The newly-built eastern terminal was recently opened to the public. The old western terminal will be gradually demoted as a cargo terminal.
[edit] By Train
Tianjin has several railway stations: Tianjin (East) Railway Station, Tianjin West Railway Station, Tianjin North Railway Station, Tanggu Railway Station, and TEDA Railway Station located in TEDA, to the north of Tanggu. Then newly remodeled Tianjin (East) Railway Station is the main passenger station, connecting Beijing, Shanhaiguan, Jinan, Jixian, and Bazhou.
Tianjin railway system is also responsible for moving the large quantity of goods to and from the Tianjin Port.
Starting from Aug. 1, 2008, the inter-city trains between Beijing and Tianjin adopt a new numbering system: Cxxxx (C stands for City in Chinese). The train numbers range between C2001～C2298:
- C2001～C2198: From Beijing South Station to Tianjin, non-stop.
- C2201～C2268: From Beijing South Station to Tianjin, with stops at Wuqing Station (武清站) or Yizhuang Station (亦庄站);
- C2271～C2298: From Beijing South Station to Tanggu Station of Tianjin.
For detailed train schedules, refer to Tianjin train schedule.
[edit] By Bus
Tianjin's road system consists of 6 China National Highways (102, 104, 105, 112, 205, 307 and 341) and 7 expressways:
- Jingjintang Expressway, Beijing to Tianjin's Tanggu District;
- Jinghu Expressway, Beijing to Shanghai via Tianjin ;
- Jingshen Expressway, Tianjin's Baodi District to Shenyang via Beijing;
- Tangjin Expressway, Tianjin's Tanggu District to Tangshan of Hebei province;
- Jinbao Expressway, Tianjin's Beichen District to Baoding of Hebei province;
- Jinbin Expressway, Zhangguizhuang Bridge to Hujiayuan Bridge, both within Tianjin;
- Jinji Expressway, central Tianjin to Jixian County;
There are several long-distance bus terminals in Tianjin. The main terminal, Tianhuan Long-distance Passenger Station (天环长途客运站), is located in the Nankai District. Buses here mainly go to cities in other provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi. Other bus terminals have buses to Tianjin suburban area and nearby cities in the neighboring provinces.
[edit] By Ship
Tianjin is connected to Dalian as well Incheon, South Korea, by passenger boat.
Kobe, Japan - is served by a weekly China Express Line[1] ferry, departing Kobe at 11am on Fridays and arriving in Tianjin at 2pm on Sundays. It takes 51 hours to do the nearly 2000 kilometer crossing between the two cities. Tianjin Office Tel.:+86 22-2420-5777
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] By Public Bus
Founded in 1904, the Tianjin bus system was the first in China, and today the city is well served by its public transportation. Within the city, traveling on a bus line that is less than 12 kilometers will cost ¥1.5, while ¥1 will cover a journey on any line over 12 kilometers, even if you travel less than 12 kilometers but on a line that is over this distance, the cost is still ¥1. It's well worth your time to look up popular bus routes. And the buses are all comfortable and clean.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Tour Bus
[edit] By Metro
The old Tianjin metro was suspended in 2001, but after refurbishing was re-opened on 28 May 2006. In addition, a light railway line runs between the urban area of Zhongshanmen to the seaside area Donghailu in TEDA.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car
Taxis are abundant, and the price is not high. The minimum cost for 3 kilometers is ¥8, and then a further ¥1.7 is added for every kilometer after that. Taxis also charge for the time while the vehicle is stationary at ¥1.7 for every five minutes (cost is exempt for less than five minutes. However, it is strongly recommended that you do not take a taxi from near the railway station. See note in the Get in-By train section above about how to avoid train station taxis. The same advice applies at tourist stops, it is best to walk a few blocks to a regular street to catch a metered taxi. Do not support non-metered taxi drivers! There are plenty of legal taxis.
You can rent a taxi for the day or even for a few hours. For example you could have a taxi wait for a few hours while you visit a tourist attraction such as the harbor area. The drivers are happy to wait, and the cost for two hours would be less than ¥100 (US$10-15).
Another caution about taxis is that there are toll roads in some parts of China. In a taxi, you will be expected to pay the base fare plus the toll fee. The driver pays the toll and receives a receipt at the toll booth. At your destination, you ask for the receipt(s) and pay that amount plus the base fare. If you are going a long way, you may also be asked to pay for the return toll fee. That is a legitimate request, although you could argue that the driver will pick up another fare to pay for the toll anyway. You may or may not succeed with the driver.
Lastly, tipping taxi drivers is a Western trait. Most local Chinese do not tip except for exceptional service. You will not be treated poorly if you cannot afford to tip or to tip much. It would be generous of you to tip in certain situations, perhaps when the driver gets out to handle your baggage.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Attractions
With a history of over 600 years and influence of western powers, Tianjin surprises visitors with temples and other historical relics, commemorative sites of the Chinese revolution, as well as some colonial architecture which illustrates its past.
[edit] Video
| Tianjin |
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[edit] Hotels
[edit] Budget
[edit] Mid Range
[edit] Luxury
[edit] Restaurants
- Goubuli, Guifaxiang Mahua and Erduoyan Zhagao are the most famous restaurants in Tianjin.
- Western food is also common in Tianjin, and the following restaurants have a good reputation: Qishilin or Kiessling.
[edit] Budget
- Street Markets, many locations throughout the city.
[edit] Mid-range
- YY Beer House, Located on #3 Aomen Lu behind the International Building in Heping District, tel 22-23399634 — A great inexpensive Thai restaurant offering a wide selection of beers. A great place to visit during the Thai Water Splashing festival in the spring!
- Amazon Brazilian B.B.Q. Bar, In the basement of the Exchange, Nanjing Lu Number 189, Heping District, tel 022-83191098 — Does exactly what it says on the tin and has an enthusiastic, if slightly kitschy Filipino band providing live music as you munch.
- Alli Baba No. 2 Hutong Tong-an Road (Nankai University), tel +86 22 2351 3976 — Featuring international cuisine and foreign student clientele close to the Nankai University campus, which has a whole range of dishes such as pasta, pizza, salad, etc.
[edit] Splurge
- Sheraton Hotel, Zi Jin Shan Road, He Xi District, tel 86)(22) 2334 3388. Fine dining available at one of three top quality restaurants available onsite.
- C’est la Vie, tel 86 (22) 2341 9808 — Pricey, but fantastic authentic French food for special occasions.
- Bawarchi, 3/F, Shanggu Business Complex West Building, No. 69 Tianta Road, Nankai District, tel (8622) 2341-2786 — Great Indian food, cooked in a traditional Indian tandoor clay oven by Indian chefs.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
Tianjin has both modern shopping malls and distinctive traditional stores, for shopping delight. Binjiang Dao Business Street and Heping Lu Business Street are the busiest and most prosperous shopping centers in Tianjin. Most of the top shopping malls or department stores can be found on these two streets, like Quanye Chang, Isten Department Store, Jinhui Shopping Square, and so on, of which Quanye Chang is the most famous.
- Tea— Buy from the best at the many authentic Chinese tea houses in Tianjin.
- Ceramic Figurines— Tianjin is famous for its high quality ceramics. These are a great souvenir to take home.
- Shenyang Dao Antique Market— Biggest antiques market in China, this is a place that is a must see on any travelers list. Shenyang Dao Antique Market is filled with all kinds of shops selling porcelain items, paintings, gold, silver, copper, jade etc.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Night Life & Entertainment
There are a number of expat bars catering to the visiting business community, most of which can be a little expensive (¥25 upwards for a small bottle of beer) so if you like something a bit more laidback and comfortable, some recommended venues are as follows.
- Jim’s Café Number 6 Changdu Road, Heping District, near the intersection of Yingkou Dao and Qixiangtai Lu, tel 2871 7172 — Jim’s is a bit like ‘Cheers’, in that everyone knows your name, the food is not the greatest but it is cheap and has a mix of Western and Chinese dishes. The beer is cheap (¥8 for a large Tsing dao) and the staff are friendly, speak good English and there is free internet access and a pool table. Good spot for a great night out.
- Alibaba — (Small lane opposite Bengon’s on Tong2 An1 Dao4, 和平区同安道兵果士对面无名的小街) Comes in a close second to Jim’s. Good Western food, cheap beer and table football. There is also a newly constructed ‘Number 10 Downing Street’ themed private dining room for hire at the back. Also provides free internet access.
- The Tavern Joy Business Center, Building B, 3rd Floor, tel 2341 9696 — More up-market and therefore slightly more pricey but a great place to hang out nonetheless. Run by the ever-welcoming British born Aussie, David, they have a good selection of draught beers and live music.
- Rainbow Pub, 12 Yanhe Road, Hexi District [near Sheraton] 河西区沿河路12号)— Very similar to pubs you might find in an English suburban town except the clientele are predominately Chinese. There is also a very kitsch Filipino band in residence here. Great fun and unpretentious to the end. Has recently received some very poor reviews by expats in Tianjin.
As far as clubs go, Tianjin is a big university city both for Chinese and foreign students so there are lots of places for dancing. The music policy tends to be mostly Western and Chinese dance, pop and hip hop/R&B, so if you have more alternative tastes in music, the clubs are possibly not for you! However, some notables are Scarlet, Seven, New York Bar and the new Sitong Bar in the Olympic building.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Sports & Recreation
[edit] Excursions & Day Trips
Not a tourist-friendly destination compared to other major cities, Tianjin is not visited by a large number of foreigners. However, if you want to get to know the real China, it's a great place. Everyone is friendly and many people will say "Good Morning" or "Hello" to you in English, even if that's all the English they know.
One of the largest shopping districts is in Tianjin, near the Wal-Mart Supercenter. The Ancient Cultural Street has a lot of souvenirs and trinkets, but you must know (or learn) how to bargain. If you are not willing to haggle you might pay far to much for an item you want. You are very unlikely to encounter a mean seller, even when bargaining hard or walking away from an offer. But, once you agree to a price, you cannot change your mind as that would be considered offensive. You can walk away from a bad offer, but not from an agreed price, so decide early what you want and for how much. You may be stopped as you walk away with an "Okay" to your last offered price, that's still an agreed price, so go back and pay and take your treasure home.
Learn what a local would pay for an item and stick to that price. Do not convert Yuan into your home currency and think it's a bargain. Never ever shop in any currency besides Yuan. You will get ripped off when they convert it over (because, of course, they cannot take any other currency besides Yuan). A small silk handbag is worth ¥12-20; a set of 4-6 chopstick sets is worth about ¥50-60 in Beijing and about ¥35-45 in Tianjin; large dolls are worth about ¥80-120 depending on how excited you seem to the seller; and bottled water in the street is only worth ¥1 (maybe 2). A Yuan is also called a Kwai in slang, so you can seem more knowledgeable if you offer in Kwai. There is a unique set of hand gestures for the numbers 1-10, find a local to teach you. When you ask for a price, you'll often get a hand gesture. Carry a pen and pad of paper, which can help clarify if a price is ¥6 or ¥60 or was another odd number like ¥73, which can be hard to catch if they move their hands too fast. When you bargain, you should use the appropriate hand gesture for the number, too, or write it down. In real touristy spots, the sellers will know some English, but in more local areas, they won't have a clue what "fifty" is when you say it aloud.
Carry mostly ¥20 bills or smaller. Many merchants don't have change and don't like to accept large bills. Counterfeiting is or has been a huge problem in China. Don't be offended if someone inspects your money closely before accepting it. You should be careful to inspect it before taking any money, too. And never "swap" your old ragged ¥100 bill for a nice shiny ¥100 bill. Once the money leaves your hand, consider it accepted and gone. Don't take it back or renegotiate.
There are other large shopping districts where only local people shop. You'll be a novelty in those areas, but you don't need to be nervous. You will probably get some great deals because even the inflated tourist prices in Tianjin are half what what they are in Beijing! Add in some friendly bargaining, and you'll feel like the Champion Shopper of the World!
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Area and Postal Codes
| City | Area Code | Postal Code | City | Area Code | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baodi District (宝坻区) | 22 | 301800 | Beichen (北辰) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Dagang (大港) | 22 | 300000 | Dongli (东丽区) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Hangu (汉沽区) | 22 | 300480 | Hebei District (河北区) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Hedong (河东) | 22 | 300000 | Heping District (和平区) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Hexi District (河西区) | 22 | 300000 | Hongqiao (红桥区) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Ji County (蓟县) | 22 | 301900 | Jinghai County (静海县) | 22 | 301600 | |
| Jinnan (津南) | 22 | 300000 | Nankai District (南开区) | 22 | 300000 | |
| Ninghe County (宁河县) | 22 | 301500 | Tanggu District (塘沽区) | 22 | 300450 | |
| Tianjin (天津) | 22 | 300000 | Wuqing (武清) | 22 | 301700 | |
| Xiqing (西青) | 22 | 300000 |
