Beijing to Tianjin Tour: Shijia Grand Courtyard + Tianjin Museum + Italian Style Town + Ancient Culture Street + Tianjin Eye (exterior)
Welcome to Tianjin, one of the largest and most internationally influential port cities in northern China! Our driver will meet you at the exit of Tianjin Railway Station and accompany you to start a wonderful journey in Tianjin.
The best way to explore Tianjin: stroll slowly to admire its quaint and exquisite architecture, streets, and bridges; taste authentic local street food and snacks.
After a short rest, head to visit the Shi Family Grand Courtyard. First built in the early Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875), it was the residence of the Shi Yuanshi family, the foremost of the "Eight Great Families of Tianjin." It is also one of the best-preserved and largest late Qing residential architectural complexes in China, known as the "First Residence of North China." Covering about 6,000 square meters, it is one of the largest private residences in northern China and the best place to appreciate Chinese brick carving, wood carving, stone carving, and the enclosed residential theater architecture, offering a glimpse into the ultimate luxurious lifestyle of wealthy Qing merchants. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi once visited here. In addition, the Shi Family Grand Courtyard is now the main hall of the Yangliuqing Museum, housing more than 130 treasures, with permanent exhibitions of New Year painting woodblocks and Tianjin brick carvings, well worth savoring. Many popular films and TV dramas were also shot here, such as "The Golden Family" starring Liu Yifei.
Afterwards, head to Tianjin's cultural landmark, the Tianjin Museum (closed on Mondays). This is the largest and most richly collectioned comprehensive museum in Tianjin, known as a "three-dimensional textbook of Tianjin's general history," and an excellent place to learn about Tianjin's glorious history and splendid culture. Among them, the Western Zhou Taibao Ding (the only surviving piece of the "Seven Liangshan Vessels" among bronzes), the Qianlong falangcai jade pot spring vase (brightly colored, integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seals), and the Song Dynasty white jade puppy (a "scene-stealer" in the artifact world) are the museum's treasures, very worth checking in.
After visiting the museum, you can leisurely stroll through the Italian Style Area and experience the most diverse exotic charm. The Italian Style Area is the only fully preserved Italian-style architectural complex in Asia, with 137 historical buildings in Mediterranean styles such as Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque, and is the best representative of the "Exhibition of Architecture from All Nations." You can stroll slowly around Marco Polo Square, photograph the Goddess of Peace statue, the Gothic bell tower, and the flying lion wishing pool, and feel the pure Italian charm; you can also walk along the seven horizontal and three vertical stone-paved roads, check in at exotic buildings such as consulates and churches, and every casual shot is a great photo; you can also visit celebrity former residences such as Liang Qichao's Ice-Drinking Room (at your own expense, ticket 10 yuan) and Cao Yu's Former Residence (free, reservation required), and experience the living scenes of modern Chinese celebrities up close; or check in at the former Italian barracks and learn about the history of the concession. In addition, in the Italian Style Area you can also taste different European flavors and authentic local cuisine.
Then, continue to the Ancient Culture Street, known as the "Hometown of Tianjin." This is one of Tianjin's famous cultural landmarks and also one of Tianjin's city cards. Here, you can experience authentic Tianjin life, admire Ming and Qing style historical buildings such as the Temple of the Empress of Heaven and Tongqingli, taste the "Three Wonders of Tianjin" foods: Goubuli steamed buns, Shibajie fried dough twists, and Erduoyan fried cakes, and watch intangible cultural heritage skills such as Yangliuqing New Year paintings and Clay Figure Zhang painted sculptures.
Finally, visit Tianjin's landmark building, the Tianjin Eye (exterior view). This is the world's only Ferris wheel integrated with a bridge, built on the Yongle Bridge over the Haihe River, with a diameter of about 110 meters and a height of about 120 meters (equivalent to a 40-story building), with a very special design.
Free time recommendations
1. Tianjin Crosstalk (at your own expense): Experience the humorous art of traditional Tianjin crosstalk. Crosstalk teahouses are distributed along both sides of the Ancient Culture Street, and it is a unique leisure way for Tianjin people.
2. Tianjin Temple of the Empress of Heaven (at your own expense): Feel the strong Mazu culture. The Temple of the Empress of Heaven was built in 1326 (Yuan Dynasty) and has a history of 700 years. There is a saying that "first there was the Temple of the Empress of Heaven, then there was Tianjin Wei." On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the temple holds the "Imperial Meeting," with folk art performances such as Dharma drums and lion dances.
3. Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel (at your own expense): Enjoy the magnificent city views of Tianjin, especially the night view, which is even more charming. In peak season, riding the Ferris wheel requires booking 3 days in advance; in off-season, 1 day in advance.
4. Haihe River Night Cruise (at your own expense): Enjoy a relaxed and pleasant boat trip. You can sail on the Haihe River and immersively appreciate the intoxicating city skyline, with the best views at the Liberation Bridge and Tianjin Tower light show. It is recommended to book 7 days in advance. The opening period is from mid-March to early December.
Tips
1. Tianjin actually has similarities with Shanghai: its architecture is diverse and integrates elements from many countries. The Five Great Avenues, known as the "Exhibition of Architecture from All Nations," is comparable to Shanghai's Bund. As a neighbor of Beijing, Tianjin is an affordable vacation destination near Beijing and a gateway city to northern China.
2. Tianjin is a holy land for foodies and culture lovers: the three wonders of Goubuli steamed buns, Shibajie fried dough twists, and Erduoyan fried cakes are must-try foods. It is also famous for the three intangible cultural heritage treasures: Yangliuqing New Year paintings, Clay Figure Zhang, and Tianjin crosstalk.
3. Tianjin shore excursions departing from Tianjin Port: Tianjin was built in 1404 (Ming Dynasty) and is an important water transport hub. Since opening as a port in 1860, Tianjin has become a trade hub in northern China. Please note: international cruise passengers can enjoy the 240-hour China transit visa-free policy and easily tour Tianjin (valid until December 17, 2025; please contact us for confirmation).
4. The Ming emperor Zhu Di gave Tianjin its name in 1404: "Tianjin" means "the ford where the Son of Heaven passed," commemorating the key action of crossing the river southward from the Sancha River mouth during the "Jingnan Campaign."
Suggested ways to arrive
1. Tianjin International Cruise Home Port: Tianjin International Cruise Home Port is about 70 kilometers from downtown Tianjin. This port is an important international cruise port in northern China. If you need Tianjin cruise port pickup and drop-off service, please contact our customer service.
2. Airplane: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) is about 13 kilometers from downtown Tianjin and has many direct domestic routes, such as Shanghai (about 2 hours), Xi'an (about 2 hours), Chongqing (about 2 hours 50 minutes), Chengdu (about 3 hours 10 minutes), Guangzhou (about 3 hours 10 minutes), etc. Before traveling, it is recommended to check the flight schedule in advance.
3. High-speed rail: Tianjin Station and Tianjin South Station have many high-speed rail services between Tianjin and major domestic cities, such as Beijing (about 30 minutes), Shanghai (about 5.5 hours), Xi'an (about 6.5 hours), etc. If you need to book tickets, please contact our customer service.
🍽️ Meals not included
🏨 Tianjin