Regions & prefectures
ChinaRegions & prefectures
Tianjin
Beijing’s port, its nine foreign concessions and a tradition of music-hall comedians.
- Capital
- Tianjin
- Status
- Municipality
- Region
- North China
- Must-see
- The former foreign concessions
- Local specialty
- Goubuli baozi, mahua twists, jianbing guozi
After 1860 nine foreign powers carved out concessions in Tianjin, leaving a city centre where British streets, Italian blocks and German villas stand side by side, unique in China. Binhai is the largest port in the north of the country. Tianjin is also the capital of xiangsheng, the two-man comic dialogue that works like a verbal duel and remains hugely popular on Chinese television.
What to see there
Places, dishes and traditions tied to this territory.