Tianjin - impressions

Tianjin, this city 100 kilometers away from Beijing, literally means the ford that the emperor once crossed.

Walking alongside the churches, cathedrals, or even under the Arc de Triomphe and the statues of angels, you might feel like you are in Europe.

If you ask why there is so much western architecture, then I can tell you it’s because Tianjin was forcibly occupied by the western countries like Britain, France, Germany and the US, as well as Japan because of its importance as a trading port. These invaders therefore built many offices, banks and mansions. But they didn’t stay here very long as they gave up their concessions and relinquished their rights gradually after WWII. 

What creates a sharp contrast with the pointed arches and grand facades of Neoclassical and Baroque buildings are the grey roof tiles, upturned eaves, and vermillion pillars of temples and pavilions dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

a traditional theatre

Europeans came and went, but Tianjin still stands here, delivering its unique beauty, and will continue to develop on its own.