Besides being a hub of industry & transportation, Tianjin is a busy harbor city and an autonomous administrative area of the People's Republic of China. In addition, with its universities, museums and monuments, the town is also the cultural capital of the region. The northern section of the town boasts the street of Ancient Culture - a newly reconstructed historical Chinese street. Towards south-east and a short distance from the Old Chinatown there is the Temple of Confucius, a structure heavily damaged during the Cultural Revolution and not restored until the complete renovation carried out in 1993. A board installed in front of the Wanghailou Jiaotang cathedral describes in Chinese characters the cathedral's turbulent past. The Dabeisi Temple enshrines the statues of Laughing Buddha (Mi Le Fo) and the Guanying goddess worshipped there by the visitors. As a matter of interest comes also the "Qing Zhen Si" Mosque built in the Chinese style. Another tourist attraction of the city is the Porcelain House, museum of pottery surrounded by an array of various porcelain figures. To meet the needs of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the city erected several sporting facilities. The town of Tianjin is truly unique and quite distinct from any other Chinese city. Strolling through its streets, the visitor will notice Italian, French or German restaurants and be able to relish genuine Italian pizza even at a place as remote from Italy as northern China. Tianjin is noted also for its Chinese food specialties - whoever can muster the courage is challenged to taste the traditional spicy noodles, the prawn soup or the local soya milk.
11,920 km²
Population:
15,469,500
Capital city: