Joanna James
Also called the "Expo of Worldwide Buildings," the Five Great Avenues are a unique attraction in downtown Tianjin. As a well-preserved cluster of villas, the different architectural features of each avenue are what make a tour of these five areas a must for all visitors.
As the longest and the first avenue among the Five Great Avenues to have been constructed, Machang Avenue is the first point of interest visitors will come across during a tour of this area. Spread out across a whopping 3517 yards, this area exudes a decidedly Spanish vibe in terms of architecture and style. The villa bearing No.121, in particular, is a classic example of a traditional Spanish villa. Visitors who venture down Machang Avenue can also pop by the Musée Hoangho Paiho which is also located inside the avenue and explore one of the first museums to have been established in all of China. Having been set up as early as 1922, the Roman architectural features of the Musée Hoangho Paiho is inescapable while the Tianjin Foreign Language University which was constructed a year before also contains a Mansell-style tiled roof as well as a Gour wall.
Stretching across 2275 yards or 2080m, the equally charming Munan Avenue is home to seventy-four villas which are evenly distributed on either side of the road. Villas of note down this particular avenue in Tianjin include the No.20 villa which was constructed in 1930 to be a traditional western scale mansion while No.28 displays classic Italian architecture with No.24 villa showcasing more European influences in its building style. The courtyard of the No.50 villa, on the other hand, is an English style home with red bricks and a red roof. Those who are based at Somerset International Building Tianjin or any other Tianjin corporate housing hubs will be within close range of Munan Avenue.
Although Chengdu Avenue is among the shorter avenues of the Five Great Avenues, it is by far the widest and measures in at 26 yards. Chengdu Avenue is also a mixed bag in terms of architectural influences as No 93 is a British home while No.14 showcases elements of cubism. The No. 60 villa in contrast, is strikingly modern and minimal.
Home to several villas that combine both Western as well as conventional Chinese building styles, Chongqing Avenue's main attraction is the iconic No.55 mansion where the Western styles blend with the Chinese styles. Bringing the best of both worlds together in a fusion that is harmonious, the courtyard of this home features a Chinese garden complete with stone caves, pavilions and rockeries.
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