Joanna James
On your next trip to China, you can forego Shanghai and Beijing for a whole new sense of adventure. Tianjin, a gorgeous port city in northeast China, has so much to offer. This article explores on top reasons to visit Tianjin.
Excellent transport is really what makes sightseeing amazing, easy and enjoyable. And Tianjin has an excellent transport system complete with information in English and a cashless ticket option where you swipe a plastic coin to pay for your ticket. Using the train to travel from your Tianjin hotel to sightsee and back is also tipped to be one of the least expensive modes of transport since popular hotels like Pan Pacific Tianjin are centrally located to attractions.
Tianjin is noted for its variety of food choices and some age-old favourites like dumplings and Peking Duck. Explore and experiment, if you dare, on the wide variety of food on offer. Fill your days with popping into the crowded noodle spots and sitting at a table waiting for that steaming bowl of noodle soup, or enjoy the snacks and exploring the popular eat streets as you shop for souvenirs and sightsee. Oh, and here's a tip, vegans and those seeking halal food are well looked after with plenty of eating options in Tianjin.
Surprisingly closer to your hotel than you would imagine is the section of the Great Wall accessible to tourists from Tianjin. Best of all, this stretch is crowd-free and easy to relish. From the rustic background of mountains to the amazing wall itself, it offers perfect social media photo ops, and of course, a chance to experience a part of world heritage. Leaving the Great Wall, you will find several sellers of dried fruit, you may want to experiment and indulge your taste buds with the delicious flavours exuding from these products.
The Dabei Buddhist monastery located in the Old Town quarter of Tianjin is an iconic historical relic. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the shrine is a lovely place to learn about local traditions and culture while people watching. Before you explore the 114,000-square-feet complex, make sure to head over to the healing pot, a gigantic cauldron in the middle of the square, and rub the pot and then run your hands over the part of your body needing some healing, and who knows, faith may work in your favour.
You just might miss the magnificent Great Mosque, walking right past it, as the complex does not look anything like a traditional mosque. Instead, the red and gold building with its traditional Chinese turned up roof and pillars of red bearing Chinese characters looks more like a Zen shrine. But it is a mosque and quite a cherished shrine amongst the Islamists of Tianjin.
Enjoy your new experience of China!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
