over a thousand worshippers and features couplets and tablets written in both Arabic and Chinese characters, with carved brickwork in the Hui style. XIKAI CHURCH (ST. JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAL) The three green domes of this 1917 church built by French Jesuits make it one of the city’s major landmarks. It’s been beautifully restored as a working church, with Mass in English held at 11.30 am daily.
goingplacesmagazine.com / 34 / September 2017
TIANJIN EYE It’s become somewhat de rigueur for a major city to have one of these nowadays. Tianjin’s doesn’t disappoint, with fine views along the Hai River from the top of this 120-metre-high Ferris wheel.
For Sightseeing FIVE GREAT AVENUES The five avenues running off Wu Dadao are the core of the old concession area, where hundreds of colonial buildings remain. Many of them have been occupied by restaurants, bars and cafés, making this a great place to explore by day or night. PORCELAIN HOUSE One of the city’s quirkier colonial buildings, this five-storey French-style villa has been decorated inside and out with over 700 million pieces of crystal and Chinese porcelain, including vases, bowls and dishes, all set into the walls.
ITALIAN TOWN Near the river, the old Italian concession has been redeveloped as a dining and nightlife hotspot, attracting many foreigners to its Italian, French, German, Spanish and even Thai restaurants. DABEI BUDDHIST MONASTERY The city’s largest and oldest temple, this Buddhist monastery was built in 1669. Famed for the fine statuary in its many brightly coloured halls, it’s also a great place for vegetarian food. GREAT MOSQUE One of the most famous in China, the prayer hall of this Qing dynasty mosque can hold
Fast facts
30 minutes
• Only from Beijing by high-speed train.
third-largest
• The city in China; sixth most populous in the world.
11,000
• Covers an area of square kilometres.
home base
• Is the of Beijing opera.
best time
• The to visit is late March to May and September to mid-October.
Sept 2017_MY Guide_Tianjin03.indd 34
Beijing
China
TIANJIN
TIANJIN RADIO & TELEVISION TOWER Located in the southwest of the city, this 415-metre-tall TV tower (the fourth highest in the world) offers even better views than the Eye, with observation decks from 248-278 metres. TIANJIN MUSEUM Housed in a huge, modern building inspired by the appearance of a swan, this is the place to get a grip on the city’s complex history, with well-laid-out exhibits captioned in both Chinese and English. DRUM TOWER Located in the ancient city centre as it was used for signaling, this recent reconstruction of a Ming Dynasty structure offers views across the old town and a small exhibition space. The streets around it are lined with souvenir stalls. JINGYUAN GARDEN Perhaps the most interesting building in Tianjin, this residence and gardens with lakes, pagodas and bridges mix Spanish and Japanese architecture. It was the Tianjin home of Puyi, the last emperor of China. HAI RIVER Historically the main artery of the city, the banks of the Hai River make an excellent escape from the everyday bustle, with several attractions strung along, such as Haihe Park and the Haihe Cultural Centre. JINWAN SQUARE Located on top of Tianjin Railway Station,
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