As one of the four municipalities in China, Tianjin has a rich history that dates back to the Ming Dynasty when Emperor Zhu Di crossed the river and started the city's development. During the late Qing Dynasty, foreign powers established concessions in Tianjin, and during the Republic of China, it became the industrial and shipping center of northern China. Tianjin blends traditional Chinese culture with modern Western influences, creating a unique and harmonious atmosphere. With the high-speed train from Beijing, it takes only half an hour to reach Tianjin, where you can explore various bridges, buildings with different architectural styles, diverse folk customs, and a wide range of delicious cuisine. It is truly a hidden gem worth visiting.

Tianjin Eye

The Tianjin Eye, also known as the Tianjin Yongle Bridge Ferris Wheel, spans the Hai River and connects the Hebei District and Hongqiao District. It combines bridge and Ferris wheel, serving both as a tourist attraction and transportation.

As the only Ferris wheel in the world built above a bridge, Tianjin Eye is a landmark of Tianjin. It takes 28 minutes for the Ferris wheel to complete one rotation, and at the highest point, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area, including scenery within a radius of 40 kilometers, hence the name "Tianjin Eye".

In March 2023, Tianjin Eye completed the replacement of all 48 cabins. Although the blue and red color scheme remains the same, the colors are brighter. The interior structure and decoration design are themed "harmony (modern simplicity), wisdom (intelligent technology), joy (warm and romantic), and fun (parent-child cartoon)" to provide visitors with personalized sightseeing experiences. The metal seats in the cabins have been upgraded to comfortable and soft sponge cushions, and the color schemes of each cabin are different. The most eye-catching theme is the parent-child cartoon theme, with sofa seats in green and bright orange colors representing spring.

The renovation focuses on making the cabins more intelligent. The new cabins have sky screens and ground screens, playing different animation effects, including starry sky, romantic cherry blossoms, and brilliant fireworks. The cabins are also equipped with charging and Bluetooth devices, allowing visitors to play their favorite music. At the top of the cabin, colorful atmosphere lights are added to enhance the immersive experience. In addition, call systems and video monitoring have been added to monitor visitors in the cabins at any time.

Address: Yongle Bridge, Sancha River Estuary, Hebei District, Tianjin.

Memorial to Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao

The Memorial to Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao is located at No. 9 Water Park West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin. The memorial was originally established as a tribute to Zhou Enlai's revolutionary activities in Tianjin during his youth and was located in the East Building of Nankai Middle School. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Zhou Enlai's birth on February 28, 1998, the memorial was reopened with great fanfare.

The memorial covers an area of 70,000 square meters, with a construction area of 13,000 square meters. Divided into three floors, the main building is in the shape of the Chinese character "工" and is 21.3 meters high. The exhibition hall is simple, solemn, and elegant, while the memorial square outside the hall, the giant granite sculpture “Gao Shan Yang Zhi”, the memorial forest, lawn and flowers complement the main building, creating an elegant environment and a solemn atmosphere.

The memorial is divided into three exhibition areas: the main exhibition hall, the special exhibition hall of the West Flower Hall of Zhongnanhai in Beijing, which is replicated on a 1:1 scale, and the special aircraft exhibition hall. The layout of these halls is well-organized, unique, with each section having its own characteristics while being closely connected and complementing each other.

The rich collections in the memorial include cultural relics, documents, photos, and other materials, with over ten thousand items and over a hundred precious exhibits. Among them, there are extremely rare items such as the urn containing the ashes of two great figures, the flag commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising, and the silk-cotton coat sewn by the people of Tianjin for Deng Yingchao. These exhibits comprehensively showcase the great achievements and moral character of two role models and great figures throughout their lives. They condense the remarkable stories of China's first premier and demonstrates the noble thoughts and sentiments, outstanding personal charm, extraordinary courage, as well as the deep affection for the motherland along with the people of these two century-old great men: Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao.

Address: No. 9 Water Park West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin.

Italian Style Street 

Located on the banks of the Hai River, the Italian Style Street in the central urban area of Tianjin is a shining pearl above the river with rich historical heritages and rich cultural resources. The Italian Style Street was formerly the Italian concession and is currently a well-preserved concession area in Tianjin. The area boasts nearly 200 well-preserved European-style buildings with a history of over 100 years, making it the largest Italian-style architectural complex outside of Italy. The surviving cultural relics of various styles have witnessed the historical changes of Tianjin from the "concession of nine countries" to a modern bustling city. In addition, it embodies the urban characteristics of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures in modern Tianjin, and carrying the unique cultural symbols of Tianjin.

The Italian Style Street, centered around the Marco Polo Square, is surrounded by various small European-style villas, Italian-style pavilions of varying heights, countless round arches and colonnades, which are full of European-style colors. There are not only Italian-style public buildings, such as casinos, barracks, and consulates but also many celebrity residences, including those of Liang Qichao, Cao Yu, Yuan Shikai, and the Zeng Guofan family.

In order to further enrich the cultural experience of the street and meet the diverse consumer needs of tourists, great efforts have been made in innovative business formats. After several years of development and construction, the street now features unique dining, cultural performances, immersive experiences, cultural tourism, leisure shopping, and other consumer formats that embody both European culture and local characteristics. It has formed a comprehensive multi-functional area that integrates tourism, commerce, leisure, entertainment, and cultural exhibitions, with a focus on "food, lodging, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment" and meticulous service that warms visitor's hearts.

Address: No. 39 Guangfu Road, Hebei District, Tianjin.

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum is located on Haixuan Road in the Sino-Singapore Eco-City of Binhai New Area, Tianjin. It is a second-class public welfare cultural institution jointly built and managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China and the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, directly under the Binhai New Area People's Government. It is a national comprehensive maritime museum that integrates collection, display, research, and education.

The museum covers an area of 150,000 square meters, with a building area of 80,000 square meters, and a total exhibition area of approximately 23,000 square meters. The main building has three floors and some areas have four floors. There are six exhibition areas with 15 exhibition halls. There are also public service facilities such as a museum shop, restaurant, cafe, and cinema.

The museum shows China's commitment to protecting marine ecological civilization, inheriting marine historical and cultural heritage, and telling Chinese maritime stories.

Address: No. 377 Haixuan Road,  Sino-Singapore Eco-City, Binhai New Area, Tianjin

Xikai Church

The Xikai Church is located on Xining Road in the Heping District, across from the back door of the International Shopping Plaza. It is the main cathedral of the Tianjin Diocese and was built under the direction of the French missionary Paull-Marie Dumond, beginning in 1913 and completed in 1916.

After the Second Opium War in 1860, Tianjin opened its port, and a large number of foreign missionaries flooded into the city. Various churches appeared in Tianjin against such historical background.

Entering the courtyard of the church, one will find that there are four white statues on either side of the main entrance, representing the four apostles of Jesus. The main entrance is usually closed, and visitors need to enter through a side door. The church can accommodate more than a thousand people and the interior is spacious. Fourteen tall columns support the circular dome, demonstrating extraordinary architectural artistry. Three aisles divide the neatly arranged tables and chairs into four rows, leading to the altar at the end. The walls of the hall are covered with oil paintings depicting stories related to religion. Confessional booths are located on either side of the aisle, where priests receive believers for confession. Walking along the aisle to the end, one can see the pulpit in the center, and unlike Buddhist temples and Taoist temples, there are no towering statues here. On the left is the Sacred Heart altar, which displays the image of Jesus. On the left wall of the altar, there is a large oil painting depicting the Last Supper, showing Jesus and his twelve apostles sharing a meal before his crucifixion.

Address: No.9 Xining Road, Heping District, Tianjin