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.

China Silk

Traveling in the city of Tianjin, it’s hard to trace the history of the city. The rapid modernization has changed the city’s appearance in a reversible way. While walking on Guodian street, one of the very few old streets in Tianjin, you could discover the past the city conceals. The great thing about preserving culture is to add depth to our seemingly meaningless world. In a world counts in second, it gives you a sense of timelessness.

Longxiang Silk

Mosque in Tianjin

Hui is the major minority in Tianjin, which has a population of more than 170 thousands. The Hui people are a Chinese ethnic group typically distinguished by their practice of Islam.

In Tianjin, you can see different styles of mosque in the city, some have Chinese architectural style, some are in middle eastern style.

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’.

Qufudao

Qufudao, in the middle of Jiefangbeilu, Xiaobailou and Nanjing Road, is one of the main street in Tianjin. Many landmarks in Tianjin sit on this street. Because it cross the Hai River, so part of the road is Daguangming Bridge. The Modern Chinese style building at the back is Hyatt Hotel, Tianjin.

Performance Art in China from Shi Chuan on Vimeo.

Performance artist on Guyi Street.

Guyi Street

A commercial street with 600 years of history and almost hundred of shops, it was once reached unparalleled prosperity in northern China.

It’s located in the east outside North Gate of the old city. Guyi means ‘Used Clothes’, so the street got its name by selling used clothes. Not until Qing Danasty Guangxu era, in addition to second hand clothing stores, many new stores in various sectors were developed, ranging from the silk, cotton, leather goods, porcelain.

It reached its peak in the early 20th century. It became the distribution center for silk, cloth, fur, clothing, stationery, pen and ink, Chinese herbal medicines and daily commodities in Northern China.

Guodian Street

Next to Guyi Street, you could see Guodian Street. Guodian Street is one of the busiest, narrowest and dirtiest street in Tianjin. Streets like this in Tianjin are disappearing. At here, you can find cheap goods and local clothes shops. Because of the low price commodities, you could see huge crowds over weekends and holidays.

Tianjin Eye

Tianjin Eye is a ferris wheel built over Hai River. The ferris wheel is between the two way lanes on Chihai bridge. Holiday Inn is on one side of the river.

Tianjin Railway Station at night

The giant building in the picture is the Tianjin Railway Station at night. It is the principal railway station in Tianjin, China. It was built in 1888 and was rebuilt from scratch in 1987-1988.