Overview
Tianjin is a major port city and municipality on the Bohai Gulf, about 120 km southeast of Beijing. It is a gateway for trade and a center of industry, finance and education in northern China.
Municipality
Tianjin
天津市 · Capital: 天津
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Geography
Tianjin lies on the Hai River where it meets the Bohai Sea, with flat plains and an extensive coastline. The city's location makes it a key node of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Jing-Jin-Ji megalopolis.
History
Opened as a treaty port in 1860, Tianjin became a hub of foreign concessions and modern industry. It was elevated to a direct-administered municipality in 1949 and has grown into one of China's largest cities.
Culture
Tianjin is known for its witty, plain-spoken local dialect, the comic crosstalk (xiangsheng) tradition, and folk arts such as Yangliuqing New Year paintings and clay figurines (Zhang clay sculptures).
Cuisine
Tianjin food centers on breakfast street snacks: goubuli baozi (steamed buns), jianbing (savory crepes), mahua (fried dough twists) and ear-shaped fried cakes (erduo yan zhagao).
Highlights
Top attractions include the Ancient Culture Street, the Italian-style五大道 (Five Avenues) district, Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel, and the Porcelain House.