Just southeast of Beijing on the Chinese mainland, Tianjin stands at a crossroads of time and style. Along the iconic Five Great Avenues, more than 2,000 European-style villas—from Baroque to Art Deco—whisper tales of a century past. Here, a morning stroll feels like stepping onto a European boulevard, complete with leafy elm trees and pastel facades that echo a shared heritage.
In contrast, the nearby Ancient Culture Street pulses with homegrown creativity. Artisan shops and tea houses brim with intangible cultural heritage—hand-painted clay figurines, Shanxi paper cuts, and traditional shadow puppetry practices passed down for generations. Every cobblestone underfoot feels alive with centuries of craftsmanship.
As dusk settles, Tianjin’s skyline transforms into a luminous spectacle. The Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel casts a rainbow glow across the Haihe River, reflecting off modern skyscrapers draped in neon. Travelers, digital nomads, and night owls gather on riverside promenades to capture the city’s heartbeat—where history’s whispers meet the buzz of today’s energy.
Reference(s):
Tianjin: A fusion of classical and modern, Eastern and Western
cgtn.com
