travel

China Elevator Stories

Tianjin at Night (China Travel)

Tianjin has a beautiful skyline, which impresses with a light show on its high-rises next to the river at night.

13/06/2026

Ruth Silbermayr
Ruth Silbermayr

Author

Three-story brick building on a street corner with banners and planters, next to a modern white building, on a quiet urban street.

I visited Tianjin on the eve of Chinese New Year. It was the first time I had made it to this city, as it had never made it onto my itinerary before. It is well known for its former foreign concessions, which were built by foreign powers that had rights to parts of Tianjin. These powers were Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Japan, Russia, and Belgium. The US also had a presence in the area.

Historic brick-and-stone building with decorative balcony, stairs to a dark door, and a bronze bust statue on a pedestal to the left.

Most concessions were founded at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, with some lasting until the 1940s. Foreigners lived in these concessions, and later, once the land had been returned to China, wealthy Chinese moved into these large houses. Most of them were luxurious villas that could easily house a few families but were usually used by one. Some had domestic staff, and some were occupied by people holding powerful positions in either the local government or as warlords, or in similarly important roles.

City street with tall modern buildings under a bright blue sky; a bright green car crosses a zebra-crossing in the foreground.

Today, the former concessions can be found in these areas: the Five Avenues (Wudadao) Historic Area, the Italian Style Town (Marco Polo Square area), and the Jiefang North Road financial district.

Blue hatchback driving through a spacious city square with a Gothic stone building in the background on a sunny day.

Old buildings can be found in many spots around town, and the contemporary skyline makes this city a unique blend of old and new, which gives Tianjin its own charm. I can highly recommend visiting, as it is easy to explore on foot (or by taking the subway or a bus if needed when sights are not located close to each other). It offers a lot of history, old houses one can visit, and many free activities, such as walking through the former Italian concession, now called the Italian Style Area, or walking across the Haihe River.

Three-story brick building with decorative white columns and a gated archway; a parked white car and bicycles in the narrow alley beneath the structure

Many of the old buildings are in good shape, though some look like they are in need of renovation.

Wide city street lined with glass-fronted shops, leading to a cathedral-like building with two green domes in the distance.

This is an overview of what Tianjin looks like, so you can decide for yourself whether you would like to visit this beautiful city:

Large white Ferris wheel beside a city skyline, with pedestrians on a riverfront promenade.
Sunny urban plaza with red market stalls lining the walkway; people ride bicycles and stroll under a clear blue sky.
Traditional Chinese beverage shop in a red storefront with hanging lanterns and gold Chinese signage; open counter with jars and drinks on display
Wall of Chinese menu panels with illustrated dishes and bold characters, red lanterns hanging in front.
Street juice stall with three tall beverage dispensers and red storefront, multiple Chinese signs above and around.
Ornate blue-and-white building with decorative arches, statues, and curved roofs against a bright blue sky (a themed architectural facade). Themed storefront or attraction façade.
Row of red-covered rickshaws parked along a sidewalk beside white and cream buildings.
Large colorful statue of the Chinese God of Wealth holding a gold ingot, surrounded by orange pumpkins in a city plaza.
Urban street with tall apartment buildings on the right and a clear blue sky, several cars driving on a multi-lane road.
Busy city street with Huawei store on the right and Starbucks Reserve on the left; pedestrians walk under a clear blue sky.
Storefront with Chinese decorations: red lanterns, red couplets, and a bright yellow signboard outside the shop.
Public square with a traditional Chinese-style building, red lanterns, and market stalls under a clear blue sky.
Gate to a Chinese-style building with blue-tiled arches, set against modern high-rises; Chinese signage above the entrance shows the name of the place.
Crosswalk scene with a traditional building, yellow bike-share bikes on the left, and tall modern skyscrapers in the background.
Man standing on a brick-paved sidewalk beside a white and blue van, raising a long curved yellow object toward the sky in an urban street scene.
Red lanterns hang from tree branches over a busy street with traditional Chinese buildings and a white bus nearby.
Historic-style building housing a Starbucks cafe, two signs with the green Starbucks logo visible above entrance and on balcony, leafless trees framing the facade.
Row of red Chinese lanterns hanging from bare trees over street food stalls in a plaza, blue sky and apartment buildings in the background.
City skyline with tall glass skyscrapers against a clear blue sky; a fenced promenade with rope posts in the foreground.
Circular ceiling mural of winged angels above ocean waves, with a large digital departure board below in a transit terminal.
City skyline by a frozen waterway with tall glass office buildings under a clear blue sky.
Large grey institutional building with a clock tower, several windows, and red lanterns hanging at the entrance; cars parked along the street.

Have you ever visited Tianjin?

previous

Follow me on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *