Tianjin Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Tianjin (天津) is a municipality in China.
Contents |
Understand
The first evidence of settlemets in the Tianjin area were during the Warring Kingdoms (475-221 B.C.). Currently the city is China's third largest urban area. However, despite its size and importance as a port, the city lacks the vitality of other large Chinese coastal cities, and has been unable to attract the same degree of investment as places such as Guangzhou and Shanghai. However, new development is increasing rapidly and Tianjin is now catching up to nearby cities such as Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Tangshan.
Get in
Take a bus from the Beijing airport, on the 2nd floor of the parking garage out of Terminal 2.
By plane
Tianjin Binhai International Airport (ZBTJ) is about 15 kilometers to the east of the urban area.
By train
Tianjin Railway Station is the largest station in the city. It was first built in 1888 and then rebuilt in 1988. There are also several other railway stations in the urban area, Tianjin West and Tianjin North. Tanggu station serves the seaside district of Tanggu District, while Taida station is a small station located in in TEDA, 5 kilometers east to Tanggu station.
By car
Taxis from Beijing and Tianjin cost about 50 yuan or 60 yuan per seat (4 seats in total) (but these may be illegal taxis).
By bus
Tianjin is well connected with other cities. The price from Beijing is about 30 yuan.
There is also two school bus lines linking Nankai and Tianjin Universities and Tsinghua University. They depart daily at 3:45PM and 4:45PM from Tsinghua North-West Gate.
By boat
Tianjin is connected to Dalian by passenger boat.
Get around
Founded in 1904, the Tianjin bus system was the first in China, and today the city is well served by its public transportation. Within the city, traveling on a bus line less than 12 kilometers will cost 1.5 yuan, while 1 yuan will cover a journey on a line over 12 kilometers - even if you travel less than 12 kms but on a line that is over this distance, the cost is still 1 yuan.
The old Tianjin metro was suspended in 2001, but after refurbishing was re-opened on 28 May 2006. In addition, a light railway line runs between the urban area of Zhongshanmen to the seaside area Donghailu in TEDA.
Taxis are abundant, and the price is not high. The flag fall for 3 kilometers is 8 yuan, and then a further 1.5 yuan is added for every kilometer after that. Taxis also charge for the time while the vehicle is stationary at 1.5 yuan for every five minutes (cost is exempt for less than five minutes. However, it is strongly recommended that you do not take a taxi from near the railway station.
See
ANCIENT CULTURAL STREET,
GULOU JIE,
HEPING LU,
XIKAI CATHEDRAL,
MACHANG DAO,
BINJIANG DAO,
BINHAI DISTRICT
Do
Not a tourist friendly destination compared to other major cities
Learn
Putonghua
Work
English Language Instructor
Buy
Tea
Ceramic Figurines
Eat
- Goubuli, Guifaxiang Mahua and Erduoyan Zhagao are the most famous restaurants in Tianjin.
- Western food is also common in Tianjin, and the following restaurants have a good reputation: Qishilin or Kiessling.
Budget
Street Market: Many locations
Off junction of Nankai University-Tianjin University Border
Mid-range
WESTERN:
KFC McDonald's
Splurge
CHINESE:
祈年湾
Sheraton Hotel
WESTERN:
TGI's
Sheraton Hotel
JAPANESE:
Sheraton Hotel
KOREAN:
Drink
"Beer Street"- On Youyi Lu （友谊路）across from Friendship Store
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
ASTOR HOTEL,
TIANJIN CRYSTAL PALACE HOTEL,
DICKSON HOTEL
TIANJIN GENEVA HOTEL
===Splurge=== *(FOR TIANJIN STANDARDS: NOT YOUR GENERAL 5-STAR HOTELS) SHERATON HOTEL，
HYATT HOTEL,
TEDA INTERNATIONAL CLUB,
RENAISSANCE TIANJIN
Contact
CHINA POST: Tianjin Balitai Post Office (天津八里台)
Weijin Road, No. 215 District (Opposite The Gate of Nankai University)
Tel: 23378621
Stay safe
GENERAL EMERGENCIES: 医科大学第一中心医院，医科大学第三医院， 滨江医院，
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: 天津中医科院第一医院
OCULAR EMERGENCIES: Tianjin Medical University Eye Centre (TMUEC)天津医科大学眼科中心
Cope
Get out
- Shanghai: railway line Z42 (10 hours, 59 minutes) and K34.
- Beijing: T5xx intercity railway lines, from RMB$ 25 to 35, and 45 for soft-seat, 70 to 90 minutes, about 12 trains everyday, starting at 6:43AM. Other lines, the first train (K40) to Beijing departs at 3:49AM, the last train is at about 9:10PM, but they are difficult to get a seat.
