Tianjin is the third largest city in China. However, much of the development happening in Beijing and in the cities along China’s coastline has missed Tianjin. The city, though large, is most known for being Beijing’s eastern neighbor. Currently, Tianjin is in the process of catching up to China’s other cities in terms of economics and development. Despite this, Tianjin is an interesting place to visit. It is one of the oldest cities in China, with records of settlement in the area dating back 2500 years. The cuisine of Tianjin has influenced cooking styles all across Northeastern China.

Tianjin’s architecture brings to mind communist era China. Of course, China is still considered communist, but present day building projects do not in any way resemble the cold, grey, square shaped buildings of Mao’s time.

Tianjin does not have the sights and activities of Beijing or Shanghai, but it is a good place to see real Chinese life. The bus system is good. It is possible to reach any place in the city using only the bus, though the system is mildly incompressible to non-Chinese speakers.

Huangyaguan Pass, about 3 hours outside Tianjin, is home to one of the oldest sections of The Great Wall of China. For many tourists, Tianjin is simply a stopping off point on the journey to Huangyaguan. The wall runs through the arid and rocky hills. There are several towers that can be climbed. Sections of the wall can get quite crowded during peak tourist season (and on the weekends). There is a marathon held along the wall. It passes through Huangyaguan. This is definitely a time to avoid this site. Also, visitors won’t miss anything by giving the gift shops and other venues around the wall a miss. They are merely tourist traps.

Back in Tianjin, the best place to eat is the appropriately named food street. Goubuli, a steamed dumpling, is a popular snack food. Seafood is popular as well. This is a given considering Tianjin’s proximity to the sea.

Despite being relatively unknown in the west, people from Tianjin are famous in China for their laid-back dispositions and good humor. The long history of the area also bolsters the city’s domestic fame.

All in all, Tianjin is not a destination itself. A visit to Tianjin would not be the sole purpose of a trip to China. However, there is enough to do in Tianjin to warrant more than an overnight stopover.