Joanna James
Planning on your next sightseeing session in China? Why not try heading over to Tianjin? It is the largest coastal city in Northern China and is the economic centre of the Bohai Sea region. It is a place that is overflowing with cultural and historical sights to visit. Delve into Chinese culture at the attractions here.
It is said that this was once the residence of the Shi family that lived in the age of the Qing Dynasty. It seems that the family was quite rich and owned thousands of hectares of land and over 500 houses in the region. It has been found that the family opened shops, banks and factories in order to earn money just to buy land and build houses. The Shi Courtyard was built back in 1875 and is spread out across 6000 square metres which include about 200 folk houses and smaller courts as well. Today the place acts as a museum with many ancient artefacts displayed here. This is definitely a place to visit.
If you need to get away from the city atmosphere, Mt. Panshan is the perfect escape! The mountains are full of lush green trees, springs, rocks and unique hills. A long time ago, the mountains were inhabited by monks, however, during World War ll, the Japanese made sure to burn most of the temples here. Now, in the same spots, you'll find restored temples, some new as well with Buddhist schools for young monks and so on. Within the temples even today are important cultural relics that have survived the battles of the past. It's a tough climb to get to the top, but the view from here is definitely worth the trouble.
This is one of the largest and well-preserved tomb complexes in China. The western wing of the tomb site is separated for the emperors, empresses and the imperial concubines. Likewise, the eastern wing of the tomb site has also been set aside for emperors. Inside the complex, you'll find great marble archways leading to each tomb. The tombs that lie towards the north belong to the military officers and civil officials. As one walks further into the complex, the surroundings become quite interesting in the most mystique way.
If you are staying at a Tianjin hotel, then find out from your hotel about the best way to get to this part of the Great Wall and make sure you visit. A trip to Tianjin without a visit the Huangyaguan Great Wall is definitely a waste. Go on a tour here and enjoy the fine scenery as you learn more about the battle preparations that existed within the great wall. The sight is simply awe-inspiring!
Just a short drive away from hotels like Pan Pacific Tianjin is Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street. If you are a culture enthusiast, you are definitely going to love the buildings here. On either side of the street are buildings that have been built to traditional architectural patterns and the exteriors so adorned in red and gold and look as grand as ever. Here you'll find souvenir shops and antique shops as well. Want to try out some Chinese calligraphy? Get your utensils right here.
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