One of China's four direct-administered municipalities and a major port, Tianjin is about half an hour from Beijing by high-speed train, with a more relaxed pace, lower living costs and streets of early-20th-century European architecture.
Climate
Similar to Beijing: hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters, a little milder near the sea.
Local language
Mandarin; the Tianjin dialect, known for its humorous tone, is famous across China.
Food to try
Photo: ~MVI~ · CC BY 2.0 Goubuli baozi 狗不理包子
Tianjin's famous steamed pork buns, each with a neat ring of pleats on top.
Photo: Xrdtj · CC BY-SA 4.0 Jianbing guozi 煎饼果子
The Tianjin version of the crepe breakfast, made with mung bean batter and a fried dough stick or crisp cracker.
Photo: Fumikas Sagisavas · CC0 Fried dough twists 十八街麻花
Large, crunchy fried dough twists with sweet fillings, a classic gift to take home.
Sights
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 Five Great Avenues 五大道
Quiet streets lined with early-20th-century villas, best explored on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.
Photo: そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0 Italian Style Town 意式风情区
The former Italian concession, with piazzas, restaurants and restored villas.
Tianjin Eye 天津之眼
A Ferris wheel built on a bridge over the Hai River, at its best when lit up at night.
Photo: Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0 Ancient Culture Street 古文化街
A pedestrian street of traditional shops selling clay figurines, kites and New Year prints around the Tianhou Temple.
Culture
Crosstalk 相声
Tianjin is the heartland of xiangsheng comic dialogue, and small teahouse theatres stage shows every evening.
Concession-era architecture 租界建筑
Former foreign concessions left whole neighbourhoods of British, Italian and other European-style houses.
