Leopold Building

Leopold Building was once seen as a skyscraper in Tianjin. It was owned by Swiss-born Jewish businessman Marcel Leopold. The construction of the building started around 1936-1938, designed by French architect P·Mulle. The multi-purpose building is consists of offices and condo apartments. The design and concept was considered modern at its time.

After communist took over the control of the city, Marcel Leopold was prisoned. After spedning two and half years in prison, the communist government extracted all his profits. He left China and went back to Switzerland. In making plenty of money in his lifetime, Marcel Leopold made plenty of enemies too. He was later murdered while at home. (Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,891357,00.html#ixzz0gp4ovwYn)

Northern Liberty Road

Buildings on Northern Liberty Road in Tianjin, China.

grass hair building

A grass hair building in the former commercial street in Tianjin.

Tianjin Club

People’s Congress Building, Tianjin (Liberation North Road, No. 201) was originally named Tianjin Club (an entertainment center for the British). It was first built in 1860, later reconstructed in 1905. British expatriates held balls (therefore, it’s also known as The British Ball Room), concerts. Occasional it’s also used as a theater performance venue.

The building has symmetrical layout, window wall between the uniform layout of Ionic capitals emphasized the vertical composition, rich facade decorations, as well as arch doors and windows, reflect the typical architectural style of eclecticism.

Tianjin Club full view

After the British left, the building was occupied by The Chinese Communist Party. After years of poor maintenance, many parts of building were damaged.

Tientsin Club and Astor House Hotel, Tientsin in 1902

The economic reform helped the city gain understand about historic preservation. The new generation of local government officials restored the building, and now it looks as it was once appeared in postcard.

timber-framed building

In Tianjin, you can see timber-framed building, the one in the picture is probably the only timber-framed building in town.

Bank building in Tianjin

Many scholars consider Tianjin as an industrial city, but at its early days, it was once a commercial city, and even during the period of foreign occupation, the city gained its size and importance based on strong trade.

As a port city, Tianjin was the early commercial centre of the Northern China. Bankers from around the world arrived here hundred years ago to open up branches. The former Victoria Road was once like the Wall Street in Northern China.

The building in the picture is one of the many banks on the former Victoria Road, now it’s called Jiefangbeilu, means ‘North Liberty Street’.

Tuanbo Lake

Tuanbo Lake is an integrated resort and residential area in Tianjin. The town is in Spanish style. The lake scenic area is in the eastern Jinghai County, 24 kilometers away from downtown Tianjin. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty had come here on a pleasure tour, since then, the lake is also called Qianlong Lake.

Tuanbo Lake Building

Developed by Tianjin government together with Halcrow Group Limited UK, Tuanbo New Town will be a huge urban expansion area with a planned population of 80,000-100,000.

Tuanbo restaurant

Jinwan and Chifeng Bridge

Night view of Jinwan Square and Chifeng Bridge. Jinwan Square is a 24 hour sleepless entertainment centre in Tianjin.

Modern European Contrast

Architecture Contrast of Old and New in Tianjin’s Italian style district.

Paradise Cinema

Paradise Cinema is an Italian style art film Cinema within former Italian Concession in Tianjin, China. The Concessions in Tianjin were concession territories ceded by the Chinese imperial Qing Dynasty to the European imperial powers in Tianjin.

On June 2, 1946, the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana) and on February 10, 1947, by virtue of the peace treaty with Italy, the Italian concession was formally ceded by Italy to Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China.

After Communist took over power, it was once packed with many residence and had very bad maintenance.

Now with the economic reform, the Revitalization Of Tianjin, this area is renovated and with many clubs, pubs, restaurant around.