Tianjin (天津)

1. Introduction

Tianjin, abbreviated as Jin, is a municipality directly under the Central Government of the People's Republic of China, a national central city, and the largest coastal open city in northern China. Tianjin is located at the confluence of the tributaries of the Haihe River on the North China Plain, bordered by the Bohai Sea to the east, the Yanshan Mountains to the north, and adjacent to the capital city of Beijing and Hebei Province. The Haihe River meanders through the city, with various bridges spanning it, creating a unique "one bridge, one scenery" landscape.

The Tianjin area has been inhabited since the Shang and Zhou dynasties. With the opening of the Grand Canal during the Sui Dynasty, Tianjin's importance gradually increased. After the mid-Tang Dynasty, Tianjin became a land and water terminal for transporting grain and silk from southern China to the north. During the Jin Dynasty, the Zhigu Garrison was established at the confluence of the North-South Canal and the Haihe River, marking the earliest administrative setup in Tianjin. In the third year of the Yanyou era of the Yuan Dynasty (1316), Zhigu was renamed Haijin Town, serving as a military stronghold and a center for grain transport via the Grand Canal. In the second year of the Jianwen era of the Ming Dynasty (1400), Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, led his troops across the river at Haijin Town. After ascending the throne, he renamed Haijin Town "Tianjin." On December 23, 1404, Tianjin Guard was established, and the city was formally fortified. In the third year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1725), Tianjin Guard was changed to Tianjin Prefecture. In the ninth year of the Yongzheng era (1731), Tianjin Prefecture was elevated to Tianjin Fu, with Tianjin County established as an attached jurisdiction.

After Tianjin was opened as a treaty port in 1860, nine countries including Britain and France established concessions in Tianjin. The Westernization faction of the Qing court also promoted industrial enterprises in Tianjin, making it a forefront of opening up in northern China and a base for the Westernization Movement in modern China. Modern Tianjin pioneered nationwide in military modernization, railways, telegraphs, telephones, postal services, mining, modern education, and judiciary, becoming the second-largest industrial and commercial city in China at the time and the largest financial and commercial center in northern China. In 1937, Japanese forces occupied Tianjin. Due to the complex situation in the foreign concessions, the Japanese focused on controlling the entire city and strengthening their grip on the Japanese concession, without directly attacking other foreign concessions. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japanese forces began occupying areas such as the British concession in Tianjin. On August 15, 1945, after Japan's surrender, the Republic of China government recovered Tianjin and the various foreign concessions.

In March 2006, the "Tianjin Master Plan" approved by the State Council positioned Tianjin as an "international port city, northern economic center, and ecological city." It also incorporated "promoting the development and opening of Tianjin Binhai New Area" into the national development strategy, designating it as a national comprehensive reform pilot zone. In November 2007, the governments of China and Singapore selected Tianjin to jointly build the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. In April 2015, the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially established, becoming the first pilot free trade zone in northern China. Since the 1990s, industries in the urban area have been relocated eastward to Binhai New Area, forming a dual-city, dual-port urban layout of "central urban area - Binhai New Area" and "Tianjin Port - Tianjin South Port." In April 2015, the "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Plan" designated Tianjin as a "national advanced manufacturing and R&D base, northern international shipping core area, financial innovation operation demonstration zone, and reform pilot demonstration zone." In 2023, Tianjin initiated the construction of the Tiankai High-Tech Innovation Park, viewing it as a concrete measure to drive Tianjin's economic development.

Tianjin is a famous historical and cultural city, home to 33 national key cultural relics protection units, 14 historical and cultural districts, and 877 historical architecture buildings. Tianjin hosted the 6th East Asian Games in 2013 and the 13th National Games in 2017. It is also a permanent host city for the Summer Davos Forum and the World Intelligence Congress.

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2. History

3.1 Ancient Times

The present location of Tianjin is an alluvial plain formed by sediment deposition before the ancient Yellow River changed its course. The ancient Yellow River changed its course three times, flowing into the sea near Tianjin: 3000 years ago near Ninghe County, during the Western Han Dynasty near Huanghua, and during the Northern Song Dynasty in the southern suburbs of Tianjin. During the Jin Dynasty, the Yellow River shifted its course southward, fixing Tianjin's coastline. By the Warring States period at the latest, early inhabitants were already living and working here. During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu established a salt official in Wuqing. The opening of the Grand Canal during the Sui Dynasty made the confluence of the Southern Canal and Northern Canal, known as "Sancha River Mouth," the earliest cradle of Tianjin. During the Tang Dynasty, salt fields were opened in Lutai, and salt warehouses were established in Baodi. After the mid-Tang Dynasty, Tianjin became a land and water terminal for transporting grain, silk, and other materials from the south to the north. The Haihe River once served as the "boundary river" between the Song and Liao dynasties, with the south controlled by Song and the north by Liao. The Song Dynasty established many military strongholds south of the Haihe River, such as Nanhe, Shawu, and Duliu, to prevent Liao forces from moving south. During the Jin Dynasty, the military stronghold "Zhigu Fort" was established at Sancha Kou, and streets had already formed near the Tianhou Temple by then. With the opening of maritime grain transport during the Yuan Dynasty, Zhigu became a hub for water transport. For this purpose, a Transport Reception Hall and Linqing Wanhu Office were specially set up in Dazhigu, along with granaries and the construction of the Tianhou Temple. In 1316, "Haijin Town" was established in Zhigu, serving as a major military stronghold and grain transport center at the time. During the Ming Dynasty, Prince Yan Zhu Di, under the pretext of "Jingnan," contested the throne with his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, crossing the river here to march south and seize power. On the 21st day of the twelfth month of the second year of the Yongle era (December 23, 1404), the Ming Chengzu Emperor Zhu Di officially issued an edict bestowing the name "Tianjin," meaning "the ford of the Son of Heaven," and built a city establishing the Tianjin Guard. As the population grew and commerce developed, the Ming court successively established government offices and schools in Tianjin or relocated officials and offices from other places to Tianjin for administration. During the Qing Dynasty, Tianjin was first changed from a Guard to a Zhou (sub-prefecture), and then elevated from a Zhou to a Fu (prefecture).

3.2 Late Qing Opening and the Westernization Movement

From 1858 to 1860, the combined British and French navies attacked the Dagu Forts in Tianjin three times, which was one of the factors leading to the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin and the Convention of Peking. In October 1860, after the Qing government signed the Convention of Peking with Britain. Western powers successively established concessions in Tianjin belonging to nine countries: Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy, Austria, and Belgium. Within these concessions, they carried out land reclamation by dredging and filling, dredged the Haihe River channel, improved Tianjin's investment environment, and facilitated Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai's initiation of the Westernization Movement in Tianjin. This gradually made Tianjin the forefront of opening up in northern China and a base for China's modern Westernization Movement. Pioneering developments in military affairs, railways, telegraph, telephone, postal services, mining, modern education, judiciary, and other areas, all began in Tianjin, making it China's second-largest industrial and commercial city and the largest financial and commercial center in the north. From 1875 to 1878, the Dingwu奇荒 famine caused approximately 2 million deaths by starvation in Zhili Province.

On October 18, 1895, with the participation of Sheng Xuanhuai and the then Zhili Governor Wang Wenshao, the Beiyang University officially opened on the former site of the Bowen Academy, marking the beginning of modern higher education in China. In July 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance captured and administered Tianjin for two years, ordering the demolition of Tianjin's old city walls in 1901. In 1903, Yuan Shikai, the Zhili Governor and Beiyang Trade Minister, began developing a new urban area on the north bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, known as the Hebei New District. In the planning and construction of this new district, Western modern urban planning concepts were adopted for the first time in China, also referred to as the "Beiyang New City."

3.3 Republican Period

In October 1916, the "Laoxikai Incident" erupted in the French Concession of Tianjin. In 1917, the Beijing Government of the Republic of China passed a declaration of war against Germany, and Republic of China military police entered and recovered the German and Austrian Concessions in Tianjin. In June 1923, Li Yuanhong announced the relocation of the Republican government to Tianjin, specifically the British Concession, where he issued presidential directives and appointments, and established a reception center for legislators. This temporarily made the Tianjin British Concession the residence of the Republic's President and the seat of a government without a cabinet. By the early 20th century, Tianjin's industry, represented by the Yongli Alkali Plant, developed rapidly. At the 1926 Philadelphia World's Fair, the soda ash produced by the Yongli Alkali Plant won a gold medal and certificate, which described it as "a symbol of the development of the major chemical industry in the Republic of China."

In August 1929, Belgium signed an agreement to return the Belgian Concession in Tianjin. In March 1931, a formal handover ceremony was held, and the Belgian Concession became the Fourth District of the Tianjin Special Administrative Region. In June 1928, the National Revolutionary Army occupied Tianjin, establishing the "Tianjin Special Municipality" and forming the Tianjin Special Municipal Government. In June 1930, Tianjin Special Municipality was placed directly under the Executive Yuan of the Nanjing Nationalist Government. In November of the same year, as the provincial capital of Hebei was moved from Beiping to Tianjin, Tianjin became a provincial-administered city. In June 1935, when the Hebei provincial capital moved to Baoding, Tianjin was restored as a municipality directly under the central government.

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, Tianjin was immediately engulfed in war. On July 29, the Japanese invading army dispatched aircraft to bomb key targets in Tianjin, including the private Nankai University. On July 30, Japanese forces occupied Tianjin and established the Tianjin Peace Maintenance Committee, appointing Gao Lingwei as its chairman. In December of the same year, it was reorganized into the Tianjin Special Municipal Administration. In April 1939, Cheng Xigeng, the newly appointed pro-Japanese Tianjin Customs Supervisor, was assassinated at the Grand Theater in the British Concession, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Britain and Japan. Starting in June of the same year, Japanese forces imposed an armed blockade on the British and French Concessions for a year. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japanese troops occupied the British Concession in Tianjin. From August to October of the same year, due to continuous heavy rains and the Japanese army breaching river embankments, Tianjin suffered a severe flood. Eighty percent of the urban area was inundated, over 100,000 houses were destroyed, more than 8 million people were affected, and 650,000 residents of Tianjin and its surrounding areas became disaster victims.

On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally, and the Republic of China government recovered Tianjin and the concessions established by Western powers in the city. On September 30, over 20,000 U.S. Marines landed in the Tanggu area. On October 8, a surrender ceremony for Japanese troops in Tianjin was held in the square in front of the headquarters of the U.S. forces stationed in Tianjin. In 1946, the Chinese Civil War broke out. In November 1948, the Pingjin Campaign began. In January 1949, the People's Liberation Army defeated the Nationalist forces and gained control over the entire area of Tianjin.

3.4 People's Republic Period

From 1949 to February 1958, Tianjin was a municipality directly under the central government. In October 1952, the Tanggu New Port officially opened, with the first 10,000-ton ship docking at the new port. In February 1958, Tianjin was merged into Hebei Province, and the provincial capital of Hebei moved to Tianjin for eight years. During this period, under the coordination of the State Council, Tianjin implemented a policy as a city with independent economic planning status, maintaining economic management authority independent of Hebei Province. However, the relocation of numerous factories and universities from Tianjin to Hebei adversely affected Tianjin's economic development.

In August 1963, a major flood occurred in the Haihe River basin, and Tianjin was besieged by floodwaters for over a month. In 1966, after the Cultural Revolution began, the normal teaching order in Tianjin's higher education and basic education was disrupted. Teaching at institutions like Nankai University basically stagnated, and normal teaching order was severely damaged. In April 1967, a large-scale armed clash involving tens of thousands occurred when youths from Tianjin University, Hebei Institute of Technology, and other universities gathered at Nankai University. In January 1967, due to "preparing for war and famine" and concerns that Tianjin might become a battlefield, Hebei Province moved its provincial capital back to Baoding. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to restore Tianjin as a municipality directly under the central government, a status it maintains to this day. In April 1970, after failing to obtain central government funding for subway construction, Tianjin decided to self-fund the project under the name of a "preparedness passageway," building it on the basis of the old Qiangzi River. In July 1973, five counties—Jixian, Baodi, Wuqing, Jinghai, and Ninghe—were transferred from Hebei Province to Tianjin's jurisdiction. During the magnitude 7.8 Tangshan earthquake on July 28, 1976, Tianjin was severely affected by the seismic waves. On October 10 of the same year, the Tianjin Underground Railway began operation.

In 1981, the Miyun Reservoir, built upstream on the Haihe River to supply water to Tianjin and Hebei, stopped supplying water to them to ensure Beijing's water supply, causing water shortages in Tianjin and Hebei. In the same year, the State Council of China decided to construct the Luan River Diversion to Tianjin Project to solve Tianjin's water problem. In 1984, at the beginning of the reform and opening-up, Tianjin was listed by the State Council as one of the 14 coastal open cities. Its economy began to develop rapidly, especially marked by the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, but overall development speed still lagged behind that of special economic zones and other southeastern coastal regions.

In 1994, Tianjin began a strategic eastward shift of its industry, focusing on building the Binhai New Area with the Development Zone and Tianjin Port as its core.

In October 2005, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to include the development and opening of the Binhai New Area in the 11th Five-Year Plan and national development strategy. In March 2006, the State Council executive meeting positioned Tianjin as an "international port city, northern economic center, and ecological city," thus ending the policy-level debate over the economic center between Beijing and Tianjin. In May of the same year, the State Council approved the Binhai New Area as a national comprehensive reform pilot zone. In August 2008, China's first high-speed railway with a speed of 350 km/h, the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, opened. In the same year, Tianjin, as a co-host city for the 29th Olympic Games, hosted some football matches. Also in that year, the Summer Davos Forum began to be held in Tianjin, taking place every two years.In October 2013, Tianjin hosted the East Asian Games, marking the city's first time organizing an international multi-sport event. In 2014, the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei was officially incorporated into the national strategy, with Tianjin positioned as the "national advanced manufacturing and R&D base, the core area for international shipping in northern China, a demonstration zone for financial innovation and operations, and a pioneer zone for reform and opening-up." On February 26, 2015, the Tianjin National Innovation Demonstration Zone was officially established. On April 21, the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially launched. On August 12, a particularly severe fire and explosion accident occurred at a hazardous chemical warehouse in Tianjin Port, resulting in significant casualties and property damage. In 2017, Tianjin hosted the 13th National Games. In 2023, Tianjin began promoting the construction of the Tiankai High-Tech Education Innovation Park as a vehicle for economic development. In October 2024, China Resources Recycling Group was established in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, becoming the only central enterprise headquartered in Tianjin.

3. Geography

4.1 Location and Scope

Tianjin is located between 116°43′–118°04′ east longitude and 38°34′–40°15′ north latitude. It is approximately 110 kilometers northwest of Beijing. To the east, west, and south, it borders Tangshan, Chengde, Langfang, and Cangzhou in Hebei Province, and faces Shandong Province and Liaoning Province across the sea. By the end of 2014, the total area of Tianjin Municipality was 11,916.85 square kilometers. Currently, due to the construction of new port areas such as Tianjin Port's Dongjiang Port Area and the second port, Tianjin Nangang, as well as land reclamation projects, Tianjin's coastline has been continuously growing. It increased from 146.53 kilometers in 2000 to 302.62 kilometers in 2012.

4.2 Topography and Geology

Tianjin's terrain is predominantly plains and low-lying land. The area of alluvial plains reaches 11,192.7 square kilometers, accounting for about 93% of the city's total area, of which nearly 80% are wetlands and salt marshes crisscrossed by river networks. Due to low hills and mountains in the north, the elevation gradually decreases from north to south, belonging to the transitional zone from the Yanshan Mountains to the coastal plain. The average elevation in the north is 1,052 meters; the southeastern part borders the Bohai Bay, with an average elevation of only 3.5 meters, making it the lowest point of the North China Plain and also the lowest-altitude major city in China. The highest point in Tianjin is Jiushanding in Jizhou District, with an elevation of 1,078.5 meters. Because the greening trees in Tianjin's urban area were mainly white poplars, under suitable climatic conditions in late spring and early summer, the phenomenon of "flying catkins" occurs. The geological history of the Tianjin region spans over 3 billion years, evolving from the Archean to the Quaternary period, forming the present-day topography. Jizhou District possesses ancient geographical environments, with diverse and widely distributed types of geological relics in its northern mountainous area. China's first national geopark—Tianjin Jixian National Geopark—is the only national geopark in China that records the geological history of the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic Earth evolution.

4.3 Hydrology

Tianjin is located in the lower reaches of the Haihe River Basin. It is the confluence and estuary of the five major tributaries of the Haihe River—the South Canal, North Canal, Ziya River, Daqing River, and Yongding River—earning it the titles "End of Nine Rivers" and "Key Hub of Rivers and Sea." The main stream of the Haihe River is located in the central part of Tianjin, stretching 73 kilometers from the Sancha River Estuary within Tianjin to the Dagukou entrance into the Bohai Sea. It is known as Tianjin's "Mother River." Other major rivers within the city include the North Canal, South Canal, Weijin River, Jin River, Xinkai River, and Yueya River. In 2014, the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project began supplying water, improving Tianjin's water usage situation.

Tianjin's coastline is located in the western waters of the Bohai Sea, stretching 153 kilometers. The Tianjin Dashentang Oyster Reef National Marine Special Protected Area is rich in biodiversity and was historically a habitat for marine organisms such as oysters, scallops, and red whelks. It is the highest latitude oyster and Chlamys farreri habitat in China and the only one in the Bohai Bay. Furthermore, Tianjin is home to China's largest salt field, the Changlu Salt Field, which accounts for one-quarter of China's total sea salt production. Tianjin is also rich in offshore oil and gas resources, with 45 oil-bearing structures discovered so far, holding considerable reserves.

4.4 Environmental Pollution and Governance

Tianjin faces resource-based environmental issues such as freshwater scarcity. Its per capita water availability is only 1/15 of the national average. Particularly with the rapid development of industry, water supply has become increasingly strained. Additionally, environmental problems within Tianjin include surface water pollution, air pollution, and soil pollution. Air pollution in Tianjin exhibits strong seasonal patterns, being more prominent in winter. Especially during the centralized heating period in winter, when atmospheric stability increases, regional atmospheric dispersion capacity weakens, leading to a higher probability of air pollution and haze weather in Tianjin. In terms of environmental governance, some prominent environmental issues in Tianjin have not been resolved for a long time. Several districts and counties have engaged in falsification in air pollution control, taking measures to interfere with the environment around monitoring stations. The ozone pollution problem in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, including Tianjin, is becoming increasingly prominent.

Tianjin faces the issue of industrial parks surrounding the city. There are a total of 314 industrial parks and agglomeration zones in the city, including 10 at the national level, 42 at the municipal level, 93 at the district level, and 169 below the district level.

Coal transport by trucks at Tianjin Port is one of the sources of air pollution in the Tianjin area. In February 2017, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued the "Work Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and Surrounding Areas for 2017," requiring Tianjin Port to stop receiving coal transported by diesel trucks before the end of July that year. On April 13, the Tianjin Municipal Government issued the 2017 Work Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control,明确提出明确要求明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出明确提出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| -59.7 | -68.4 | -73.8 | -72.1 | -62.1 | -48.6 | -34 | -22.8 | -47.4 | | Record low °C (°F) | −18.1 | −22.9 | −17.7 | −2.8 | 4.5 | 10.1 | 16.2 | 13.7 | 6.2 | −2.2 | −11.4 | −17.9 | −22.9 | | | (−0.6) | (−9.2) | -0.1 | -27 | -40.1 | -50.2 | -61.2 | -56.7 | -43.2 | -28 | -11.5 | (−0.2) | (−9.2) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 21.7 | 34.7 | 74 | 156.3 | 123.8 | 50.9 | 31.3 | 13.3 | 2.3 | 521.3 | | | -0.08 | -0.19 | -0.24 | -0.85 | -1.37 | -2.91 | -6.15 | -4.87 | -2 | -1.23 | -0.52 | -0.09 | -20.5 | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.5 | 2 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 8.3 | 11 | 9.4 | 6 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 60 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 56 | 54 | 49 | 48 | 52 | 62 | 73 | 76 | 69 | 64 | 62 | 59 | 60 | | Monthly mean sunshine hours | 165.5 | 167.8 | 212.7 | 227.9 | 253.7 | 216.2 | 191.7 | 192.2 | 200 | 187.7 | 152.8 | 155.3 | 2,323.50 | | Percentage of possible sunshine | 55 | 55 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 49 | 43 | 46 | 54 | 55 | 51 | 53 | 53 | Source: China Meteorological Administration

4. Administrative Divisions

Tianjin is a municipality directly under the central government of the People's Republic of China. Its administrative divisions were largely finalized in 1973 after five counties, including Ji County, were incorporated into Tianjin. Currently, Tianjin administers 16 municipal districts. The area enclosed by Tianjin's central urban area and its outer ring road is the region with the highest population density in Tianjin. Its core is composed of Heping District, Hedong District, Hexi District, Nankai District, Hongqiao District, and Hebei District. According to their service industry functions, these central urban districts are positioned as "Finance Heping," "Commerce Hexi," "Technology Nankai," "Finance & Trade Hedong," "Creative Hebei," and "Commerce & Trade Hongqiao." The districts surrounding the urban core are Dongli District, Xiqing District, Jinnan District, Beichen District, Wuqing District, Baodi District, Ninghe District, Jinghai District, and Jizhou District.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020) | Government Seat | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------|---------------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 120000 | Tianjin City | Tiānjīn Shì | 11,916.85 | 13,866,009 | Hexi District | 124 | 125 | 2 | 1 | | — Municipal Districts — | | | | | | | | | | | 120101 | Heping District | Hépíng Qū | 9.98 | 355,000 | Xiaobailou Subdistrict | 6 | | | | | 120102 | Hedong District | Hédōng Qū | 39.63 | 858,787 | Shanghanglu Subdistrict | 13 | | | | | 120103 | Hexi District | Héxī Qū | 38.01 | 822,174 | Dayingmen Subdistrict | 14 | | | | | 120104 | Nankai District | Nánkāi Qū | 40.64 | 890,422 | Changhong Subdistrict | 12 | | | | | 120105 | Hebei District | Héběi Qū | 29.62 | 647,702 | Wanghailou Subdistrict | 10 | | | | | 120106 | Hongqiao District | Hōngqiáo Qū | 21.26 | 483,130 | Xiyuzhuang Subdistrict | 10 | | | | | 120110 | Dongli District | Dōnglì Qū | 475.45 | 857,027 | Zhangguizhuang Subdistrict | 11 | | | | | 120111 | Xiqing District | Xīqīng Qū | 565.36 | 1,195,124 | Yangliuqing Town | 4 | 7 | | | | 120112 | Jinnan District | Jīnnán Qū | 387.61 | 928,066 | Balitai Town | 2 | 8 | | | | 120113 | Beichen District | Běichén Qū | 475.75 | 909,643 | Guoyuanxincun Subdistrict | 7 | 9 | | | | 120114 | Wuqing District | Wǔqīng Qū | 1,571.68 | 1,151,313 | Yunhexī Subdistrict | 6 | 24 | | | | 120115 | Baodi District | Bǎodǐ Qū | 1,509.71 | 722,367 | Baoping Subdistrict | 6 | 18 | | | | 120116 | Binhai New Area | Bīnhǎi Xīn Qū | 2,389.20 | 2,067,318 | Xingang Subdistrict | 16 | 5 | | | | 120117 | Ninghe District | Nínghé Qū | 1,298.32 | 395,314 | Lutai Town | 2 | 13 | | | | 120118 | Jinghai District | Jìnghǎi Qū | 1,474.03 | 787,106 | Jinghai Town | 1 | 16 | 2 | | | 120119 | Jizhou District | Jìzhōu Qū | 1,589.36 | 795,516 | Wenchang Subdistrict | 1 | 25 | | 1 |

5. Economy

Since the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period, Tianjin has been one of China's most economically developed cities, with thriving modern industry, commerce, and finance. However, in the first two decades after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin did not receive a single national key investment project. Coupled with the impact of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake and the central government's policy tilt towards the southeastern coast, Tianjin gradually lost its leading position in China's economy. Furthermore, Tianjin's proximity to Beijing has long led to a concentration of talent and resources in Beijing, creating a "siphoning effect" that constrains Tianjin's development. In the 1980s, Tianjin's economic growth rate once fell below the national average. In 1994, Tianjin began its strategic eastward shift, focusing on building the Binhai New Area. Starting in 2005, the central government successively included the development of the Tianjin Binhai New Area in the national 11th Five-Year Plan and national development strategy, and approved it as a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone. This changed the relatively slow pace of Tianjin's economic development, but the city still faces numerous challenges in regional development.

After 2016, Tianjin's economic growth decelerated. Several municipal state-owned enterprises in Tianjin, including Bohai Steel, Tianfang Group, and Tianjin Materials and Equipment Group, successively faced debt crises. In 2017, due to multiple factors such as environmental inspections and construction halts for the National Games, Tianjin's economic growth slowed significantly. In 2018, Tianjin's GDP was 1,880.964 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%, maintaining the lowest growth rate in recent years. In 2019, Tianjin's GDP data showed a severe contraction, dropping to 1,410.428 billion yuan, while the 2018 GDP figure was revised down to 1,336.292 billion yuan, indicating economic growth difficulties.

6.1 Agriculture

In 2017, the total output value of Tianjin's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline industries, and fishery was 38.207 billion yuan. This comprised agriculture (18.317 billion yuan), forestry (0.898 billion yuan), animal husbandry (10.796 billion yuan), and fishery (6.981 billion yuan), showing a slight year-on-year decreasing trend. The total sown area of crops was 439,500 hectares, remaining relatively stable in recent years. The actual forested area totaled 293,000 hectares, with an average annual afforestation area of nearly 10,000 hectares. Tianjin's grain crop structure is dominated by wheat, rice, and corn. The northern region primarily practices double-cropping of wheat and corn, the eastern region is a rice production area, and the southern region is the main production area for beans and miscellaneous grains. Tianjin's agriculture is primarily coastal metropolitan agriculture, also developing aquaculture, making it an important production base for vegetables, livestock products, and aquatic products in North China. Tianjin's specialty agricultural products include: Duliu Aged Vinegar, Tianjin Preserved Cabbage, Xiaozhan Rice, and Shawo Radish.

6.2 Manufacturing

Tianjin has a developed and comprehensive industrial sector. It is the birthplace of China's modern industry, an important traditional industrial base, and a significant industrial city both historically and currently. Major industrial projects and enterprises in Tianjin include the Airbus A320 final assembly line and A330 delivery center in aerospace, the Long March 5 series rocket R&D and manufacturing base, Bohai Chemical Group, Tianjin FAW, Tasly Holding Group, and Tiens Group.

Tianjin holds an important position in China's modern industrial history. Companies like Jiuda Refined Salt Company and Yongli Alkali Plant pioneered China's chemical industry. In March 1958, the Tianjin Radio Factory produced the first television of the People's Republic of China, named "Beijing Brand." Since the Binhai New Area became a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone, Tianjin has adopted a strategy of optimizing its industrial structure by relying on major industrial projects. It has formed eight emerging pillar industries: aerospace, petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, electronics and information technology, biomedicine, new energy, new materials, and defense industry. Some Fortune Global 500 companies have established branches and offices in Tianjin. In June 2006, the Airbus A320 series final assembly line settled in the Tianjin Airport Economic Area, becoming Airbus's first final assembly line outside Europe. Tianjin became the only city in China and even the world to host both aviation and aerospace industries. In early 2016, the Bohai Steel Group debt crisis erupted, becoming a typical case of "banks being held hostage by companies." Since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, biomedical companies like CanSino Biologics, which successfully developed a COVID-19 vaccine, have gained attention. In 2023, Airbus signed an agreement with Tianjin to build a second A320 series final assembly line in Tianjin, planned to be operational by 2025.

6.2 Commerce

During the Ming Dynasty, the benefits of river transport, maritime shipping, and reed salt propelled the development of Tianjin's commerce. Tianjin's earliest markets and commercial districts appeared during the Xuande era. By the Hongzhi era, Tianjin had become a commodity distribution center in northern China. The pattern of commercial development along the river continued into the Qing Dynasty. Commercial guilds were concentrated in areas like Guyi Street along the river's west bank. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the maritime ban was lifted, and Tianjin's commerce returned to a situation emphasizing both river and sea transport, leading to unprecedented prosperity. During the Republic of China period, Tianjin became the commercial center of the north, with landmarks like Tianjin Quanye Bazaar and Zhongyuan Department Store. As one of the birthplaces of Chinese industry and commerce, Tianjin boasts over a hundred time-honored brands, such as Guifaxiang, Goubuli, Earhole Fried Cake, Qianxiangyi, Kite Wei, and Clay Figurine Zhang. However, contemporary Tianjin's commerce is relatively mediocre. According to the 2016 China City Convenience Store Development Index, Tianjin ranked 32nd among 36 major mainland Chinese cities surveyed.

6.3 Finance

Tianjin's finance industry flourished in modern times but gradually declined in importance within mainland China after 1949. In 1797, Shanxi native Lei Lütai opened a branch of the Rishengchang Draft Bank in Tianjin, which was Tianjin's earliest draft bank.

Starting in 1882, foreign banks such as HSBC, Citibank, Chartered Bank, Russo-Chinese Bank, Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Yokohama Specie Bank, Banque de l'Indochine, Franco-Chinese Bank for Industry and Commerce, Sino-Italian Bank, and Sino-Belgian Bank, as well as the earliest Chinese bank, the Imperial Bank of China, successively opened in Tianjin. In 1902, Zhili Governor Yuan Shikai established the Official Bank in Tianjin. In 1909, the Beiyang Stock Transportation Co., Ltd. opened in Tianjin. In February 1921, the Tianjin Securities, Cotton Yarn, Grain, Fur, and Leather Exchange was established. By the mid-1930s, Tianjin had 103 Chinese banks and native banks. Among them, the Yien Yieh Commercial Bank, Kincheng Banking Corporation, China & South Sea Bank, and Continental Bank were collectively known as the "Four Northern Banks," with the headquarters of the first three located in Tianjin. In the 1940s, Rue de France housed 49 domestic and foreign banks, over 270 domestic and foreign insurance institutions, and a securities exchange, making Tianjin the financial center second only to Shanghai in China at the time.

In June 1949, the Tianjin Securities Exchange was officially established based on the takeover of the original "Tianjin Securities Exchange" by the Tianjin Military Control Commission. In 1951, the stock issued by the Tianjin Investment Company was the first stock in the People's Republic of China. After the public-private合营 in 1956, stock trading ceased. After the reform and opening-up, Tianjin lagged in financial allocation in the eastern region. The growth rate of deposits and loans of financial institutions in Tianjin was below the national average in most years, and its national share showed a declining trend. In 1994, Tianjin integrated several wholesale commodity markets and introduced futures contracts, establishing the Tianjin United Futures Exchange. Its trading volume once ranked fourth nationally, but it was also involved in risk events due to violations and was closed down and restructured into a securities company during the 1998 national consolidation.

Since the Binhai New Area was approved as a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone, it has begun pilot reforms in finance and other areas. Initiated or supported by the Tianjin Property Rights Exchange, a number of regional trading venues were successively established, including the Tianjin Equity Exchange, Tianjin Binhai OTC Market, Bohai Commodity Exchange, Tianjin Emissions Exchange, and Tianjin Culture and Artwork Exchange. However, as these were not trading venues for financial products approved by the State Council's financial regulatory authorities, they faced risks of cleanup and rectification. Notably, the Tianjin Equity Exchange and Tianjin OTC violated the regulatory principle of "one exchange per province." Due to preferential policies like taxation, Tianjin's Dongjiang Bonded Port Area has become China's largest registration location for financial leasing institutions. Simultaneously, due to regulatory disorder, chaos in the private equity fund sector once emerged in Tianjin, with multiple illegal fundraising activities conducted under the guise of private equity investment.

Currently, financial institutions headquartered or registered in Tianjin include the national joint-stock commercial bank Bohai Bank, the private bank Tianjin Jincheng Bank, as well as other banks like Tianjin Bank, Tianjin Rural Commercial Bank, Binhai Rural Commercial Bank, Sino-German Bausparkasse, IBK, and Korea Exchange Bank. Others include trust companies like Tianjin Trust and Northern International Trust, the local securities firm Bohai Securities, and Tianhong Asset Management, which ranks first nationally in public fund management scale.

6.4 Industrial Parks

Tianjin administers five national-level economic and technological development zones and one national-level high-tech industrial development zone. They are: Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), Xiqing Economic-Technological Development Area, Wuqing Economic-Technological Development Area, Tianjin Ziya Economic-Technological Development Area, Beichen Economic-Technological Development Area, and Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Area.Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as "TEDA," was established on December 6, 1984, as one of China's first national-level economic and technological development zones. In the comprehensive development level evaluation of national economic and technological development zones, it once held the top position for 15 consecutive years. In August 1986, during his inspection of the Tianjin Development Zone, Deng Xiaoping personally inscribed the phrase "Development zones hold great promise." Xiqing Development Zone and Wuqing Development Zone were upgraded to national-level economic and technological development zones at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, respectively. Tianjin High-Tech Industrial Development Area is one of the first national-level high-tech zones and was officially approved as the Tianjin National Innovation Demonstration Zone in 2014. In November 2016, Tianjin and Beijing jointly established the Tianjin Binhai-Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, China's first cross-provincial comprehensive reform pilot zone. In December 2022, Tianjin began preparations for the construction of the Tiankai High-Tech Education and Innovation Park.

6. Transportation

7.1 Ports

Tianjin boasts two major ports: Tianjin Port and Tianjin Nangang Port. Tianjin Port, also known as "Tianjin New Port," is the world's highest-grade and China's largest artificial deep-water port. It serves as the primary seaport for landlocked countries like Mongolia, with shipping routes connecting to over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions worldwide. The port currently covers a total area of nearly 260 square kilometers of water and land, divided into four main port areas: North Port, South Port, East Port, and Haihe Port. The North Port area handles container and general cargo transportation; the South Port area specializes in bulk cargo transportation; the Haihe Port area serves as a dock for small vessels; and the East Port area is China's largest bonded port zone. The Tianjin International Cruise Home Port is located in the southeastern part of the East Port area. Meanwhile, Tianjin Nangang Port, primarily developed by the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, officially commenced operations in August 2011. In August 2015, an explosion occurred at a hazardous chemicals warehouse within Tianjin Port, affecting an area several kilometers around.

7.2 Aviation

Tianjin Binhai International Airport is located in Dongli District. Its construction began in November 1939, and it now features dual runways capable of independent operation, along with two terminals: T1 and T2. Tianjin Metro Line 2 and the under-construction Jinbin Intercity Railway connect to Tianjin Binhai International Airport, forming Tianjin's airport rail link system. In August 1950, the first civil aviation route of the People's Republic of China took off from here. Concurrently, it has undertaken the mission of training specialized aviation personnel and technical experts for China, earning it the reputation as the "Cradle of New China's Civil Aviation." As of September 2015, Tianjin Airport served 106 cities. Among these, 73 were domestic passenger destinations within mainland China, 5 in the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions, and 18 international passenger destinations. In March 2016, Tianjin Binhai International Airport was awarded second place in the "Best Airport (5-15 million passengers per year)" category and third place in the "Best Airport in Asia Pacific" category for 2015 by Airports Council International.

7.3 Railways

Tianjin is the birthplace of modern railways in China. It is not only situated at the intersection of two major traditional railway lines—the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Tianjin-Shanhaiguan Railway—but also serves as a junction for several high-speed railways, including the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, Tianjin-Qinhuangdao High-Speed Railway, Tianjin-Xingcheng Intercity Railway, and Tianjin-Baoding Passenger Dedicated Line. It is a crucial railway hub connecting Beijing to the northeast and Shanghai. With the implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development plan, railways such as the Beijing-Binhai Intercity Railway and Tianjin-Chengde Intercity Railway will be constructed successively. The Tianjin-Xiong'an New Area Railway (Tianjin-Xiong'an Intercity Railway) is also included in the plans. The Tianjin-Weifang (Yantai) Railway (i.e., the Tianjin-Weifang-Yantai High-Speed Railway) is currently under construction.

The Tianjin railway hub primarily consists of Tianjin Station, Tianjin West Station, and Binhai West Station as main stations, supplemented by Tianjin South Station, Binhai Station, and Binhai East Station (planned). Additionally, other stations handling passenger services include Wuqing Station on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway; Junliangcheng North Station and Binhai North Station on the Tianjin-Qinhuangdao High-Speed Railway; Tianjin North Station, Tanggu Station, and Junliangcheng Station on the Tianjin-Shanhaiguan Railway; and Yangliuqing Station and Jinghai Station on the Beijing-Shanghai Railway.

7.4 Highways

Historically, the roads in old Tianjin city were oriented strictly north-south and east-west or parallel/perpendicular to the Haihe River's course. Due to the establishment of foreign concessions in modern times, highway construction in Tianjin started relatively early. In 1914, Captain Filotei, the Italian Consul in Tianjin, collaborated with ExxonMobil to build Tianjin's first asphalt road on the main street of the Italian Concession. Subsequently, various concessions engaged in land reclamation by dredging the Haihe River channel and using the silt to fill marshes within the concessions, significantly advancing Tianjin's road development. After 1949, Tianjin's urban area expanded rapidly, leading to substantial modifications, additions, and expansions of the city's road network based on the original layout. Currently, Tianjin's urban road system follows a radial-circular pattern, with ring roads consisting of the Inner Ring Road, Middle Ring Road, Expressway, Outer Ring Road, and Ring City Expressway. Some road names in Tianjin沿用 (continue to use) place names from the Republic of China era, such as Xikang Road and Duolun Avenue. In Tianjin's urban area, roads running parallel to the Haihe River from northwest to southeast are called "Lu" (Road), while those intersecting the Haihe River from northeast to southwest are called "Dao" (Avenue).

On December 16, 2005, the Tianjin Public Security Bureau issued the "Notice on Gradually Expanding the Restricted Area for Motorcycles." Effective July 1, 2006, motorcycles with Tianjin A license plates were prohibited from operating on roads within the Middle Ring Road, including the Middle Ring Road itself. Motorcycles with Tianjin C license plates and non-local license plates were prohibited from operating on roads within the Outer Ring Road, excluding the Outer Ring Road itself. Effective May 1, 2007, motorcycles with Tianjin A license plates were prohibited from operating on roads within the Outer Ring Road, excluding the Outer Ring Road itself.

7.4 Public Transportation

Tianjin was the first city in modern China to establish an urban public transportation system and operate trams. In 1904, with approval from Yuan Shikai, then Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, Tang Shaoyi (Tianjin Customs Dao) and Cai Shaoji (候补道), among others, signed a contract with the Belgian Consul in Tianjin to establish the "Tianjin Tram & Electric Light Company Limited." In June 1906, China's first urban public bus route, the Tianjin Circular Tram (White Badge Tram), officially began operation in Tianjin. In 1973, all circular tram lines in Tianjin were dismantled. Currently, public bus services in Tianjin are primarily operated by Tianjin Bus Companies No. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Tianjin Bus Industrial Company, and Binhai Public Transport Company.

Tianjin Metro's construction began in 1970, and it opened for service in 1976, making Tianjin the second city in mainland China after Beijing to have a rail transit system. In September 2003, the eastern section of the Jinbin Light Rail opened. In December 2005, Line 1, renovated and extended from the existing Tianjin Metro line, commenced operation. As of September 28, 2024, the Tianjin rail transit network has 11 operational lines: Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and the Jinjing Line, with a total length of approximately 325 kilometers and 223 stations. Ongoing metro construction projects include the northern section of Line 4, the western section of Line 11, Lines 7, 8, B1, Z4, and Z2. The feasibility report for Line 13 has also been approved by the Tianjin Development and Reform Commission.

In the urban taxi sector, Tianjin's earliest taxi company was established in 1975. Subsequently, the number of taxis in Tianjin gradually increased. From the 1990s to the present, Dafa, Xiali, and Toyota models have successively become common taxi models in Tianjin. Currently, the main taxi models used in Tianjin are the Toyota Corolla and FAW Weizhi. Since 2014, ride-hailing services began entering the Tianjin market and have expanded their market share amidst regulatory and oversight controversies. Tianjin also has shared bicycles, shared electric-assist bicycles, and car-sharing services available.

7. Education

As of the end of 2022, Tianjin had 24 postgraduate training institutions, 56 regular higher education institutions, 58 secondary vocational education schools, 542 regular secondary schools, and 884 primary schools.

As a key hub of the Westernization Movement and the birthplace of modern higher education in China, Tianjin's education system has played a pivotal role in modern Chinese history. From early institutions like Wei School, Wenjin Academy, and Xinxue Academy, to later establishments such as the Beiyang Naval Academy, Beiyang Military Academy, Beiyang Western Medical School, and Beiyang Telegraph School, these institutions not only held immense significance for China's modern scientific enlightenment movement but also pioneered the development of modern government-run and private schools in China. In October 1895, with imperial approval from Emperor Guangxu, Sheng Xuanhuai, the Tianjin Customs Superintendent, founded the Beiyang University on the former site of the Bowen Academy near the Grand Camp Gate along the North Canal in Tianjin. This was China's first modern government-run university and the predecessor of Tianjin University. After the failure of the Hundred Days' Reform, Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling successively founded the Nankai series of schools in Tianjin, including Nankai High School and Nankai University. Notable alumni include Zhou Enlai, Cao Yu, Wu Dayou, and Wen Jiabao. Concurrently, within the Tianjin concessions, various schools flourished, reaching their peak, such as Tianjin University of Commerce, Yew Wah School, and the British Grammar School. Yuan Shikai praised Tianjin at the time, stating, "Schools stand in great numbers here, with remarkable achievements, truly ranking first among the treaty ports, earning praise from both Chinese and foreign gentry and commoners alike." In 1978, under the guidance of Nankai University and Tianjin University, Tianjin established several commuter universities to increase university enrollment quotas in the city and expand its higher education resources. Currently, Tianjin has two universities selected as Class A institutions in the national "Double First-Class" initiative: Nankai University and Tianjin University. Four other universities are selected as "Double First-Class" discipline construction universities: Tiangong University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Hebei University of Technology (the latter being under the jurisdiction of the Hebei Provincial Department of Education). Additionally, the Civil Aviation University of China, the highest institution in China's civil aviation industry, is also located in Tianjin.

8.1 Scientific Research

In terms of scientific research, as of 2018, Tianjin's expenditure on research and experimental development accounted for 2.62% of its GDP, ranking fifth among all provincial-level regions in China. By the end of 2018, Tianjin housed 13 national key laboratories, 12 national engineering (technology) research centers, and 61 national enterprise technology centers. Research institutions span various fields including aerospace, biomedicine, and information technology. The Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a CAS-affiliated research institute in Tianjin. The Dawning Nebulae supercomputer, produced at the Dawning Tianjin Industrial Base, ranked second on the global TOP500 supercomputer list in June 2010. The Tianhe-1A supercomputer, deployed at the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin, claimed the top spot on the TOP500 list in November 2010, making it the world's fastest supercomputer at the time. Starting in 2021, Tianjin began constructing six Haihe Laboratories, positioned as the city's highest-level scientific research innovation bases.

8.2 Sports

Traditional sports activities in Tianjin primarily include Tianjin-style wrestling, martial arts, tug-of-war, shuttlecock kicking, and diabolo. After being opened as a treaty port in 1860, Tianjin became one of the earliest cities in China to be introduced to modern Western sports. In 1908, Robert Gailey, the acting general secretary of the Tianjin YMCA, obtained slides of the ongoing Fourth Olympic Games in London through international channels and showed them to students at Nankai High School on its sports ground. Before viewing the slides, Nankai students displayed banners posing the "Three Olympic Questions": "When will China be able to send athletes to participate in the Olympic Games? When will our athletes be able to win an Olympic gold medal? When will our country be able to host the Olympic Games?" This was reported in the Tianjin Youth magazine in 1908, and the "Three Olympic Questions" are regarded as the beginning of China's Olympic dream. Currently, in football, the men's football club representing Tianjin in the Chinese Football Association Super League is Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. The women's football club, Tianjin Huisen, which participated in the Super League and won multiple championships, was dissolved in December 2017 due to insufficient funding. In volleyball, the Tianjin Bridgestone women's volleyball team won eight championships and one runner-up position in the nine seasons of the national league from 2002 to 2011. In baseball, the Tianjin Lions have won multiple championships in the China Baseball League and the National Baseball Championship. In basketball, Tianjin is represented by Tianjin Ronggang in the CBA.

In terms of sporting events, Tianjin has successfully hosted numerous international single-sport championships and large-scale international multi-sport events. These include the 1995 World Table Tennis Championships, the 1999 World Gymnastics Championships, the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship, the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, the football events of the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2013 East Asian Games, the 2015 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, and the 2017 National Games.

Major sports venues in Tianjin include the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin Sports Center, Tianjin Haihe Education Park Sports Center, Tianjin Tennis Center, TEDA Football Stadium, and Tuanbo Football Stadium.

8. Population

Historical records from the Yuan Dynasty indicate that in Tianjin, "half the population understood Wu dialect." The Wu-Yue and Jiang-Huai ethnic groups were the main components of Tianjin's early settlers. During the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, was dispatched by Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, to garrison the Tianjin area. He brought with him a large number of people from northern Anhui and northern Jiangsu. After Tianjin was opened as a treaty port in 1860, Western powers established concessions in the city, attracting a significant number of foreign residents to settle there. In the late Qing Dynasty, 60,000 Huai Army troops were stationed in and eventually integrated into Tianjin's population. In the early 20th century, continuous natural disasters in North China drove a large influx of farmers from surrounding areas into Tianjin, making the Ji-Lu ethnic group the main body of new immigrants. Some White Russian refugees fleeing the Soviet Red Army and Jewish refugees during World War II primarily settled in the Japanese Concession and the southern end of the British Concession in Tianjin. During the Beiyang Government period, many former Qing nobility and officials, as well as compradors and national capitalists, moved to and settled in Tianjin. After 1949, the vast majority of foreign nationals left Tianjin. By the end of 2015, Tianjin's permanent resident population was 15.4695 million, an increase of 2.4766 million compared to the end of 2010, with an average annual increase of 495,300 over the five-year period. Among them, the migrant resident population was 5.0035 million, an increase of 1.9991 million compared to the end of 2010, accounting for 80.19% of the total population increase, with an average annual increase of 399,800 over the five years. In March 2016, Tianjin abolished the distinction between agricultural and non-agricultural household registration (hukou) and gradually relaxed restrictions on household migration within the city. As of November 1, 2020 (the reference time for the Seventh National Population Census), Tianjin's population was 13.8660 million.

By the end of 2022, the city's total permanent resident population was 13.63 million, of which 11.60 million were urban permanent residents and 2.03 million were rural permanent residents. The urbanization rate was 85.11%, an increase of 0.23 percentage points from the end of the previous year.

The coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has promoted population mobility within the area. However, population inflow into Tianjin has not accelerated significantly, while the outflow population has seen the largest increase. Tianjin faces challenges such as a decrease in inbound migration, deepening population aging, a weak job market, and an increase in the separation of registered and actual residences within the city.

8.1 Language

Tianjin dialect is a variety of Mandarin Chinese, typically referring specifically to the dialect spoken within Tianjin city proper, parts of its immediate suburbs, and Tanggu. This dialect forms a linguistic island surrounded by the surrounding Ji-Lu Mandarin and Beijing Mandarin. Its low falling tone (21) for the yinping tone category is the most distinctive feature distinguishing Tianjin dialect from neighboring dialects. Unlike other North China dialects, Tianjin dialect exhibits a Nanjing-type distinction between alveolar and retroflex sibilants, complex tone sandhi rules, and a significant number of literary and colloquial reading distinctions. The classification of Tianjin dialect has long been debated. Scholars like Li Shiyu, after field investigations, concluded that Tianjin dialect's tonal pattern is very close to that of dialects in Bengbu and Fengyang areas of Anhui Province. They argue that Tianjin dialect originated from the dialects brought by immigrants from the Huai region during Prince Yan's northern expedition in the Ming Dynasty, which then developed under the influence of Ji-Lu Mandarin, thus belonging to the Central Plains Mandarin branch. Other scholars classify Tianjin dialect under the Ji-Lu Mandarin group, specifically the Tianjin subsection of the Baotang cluster, based on its shared feature with surrounding Ji-Lu Mandarin dialects: the distribution of Middle Chinese voiceless entering tone characters across all four modern tone categories.

Besides the low falling yinping tone, main characteristics of contemporary Tianjin dialect include free variation in the pronunciation of retroflex sibilants, dental sibilants, and characters with the Middle Chinese ri initial, as well as relatively unique tone sandhi rules. Among the dialects of Tianjin's suburban counties, except for Wuqing dialect which belongs to Beijing Mandarin, others such as Jixian dialect, Jinghai dialect, and Ninghe dialect all belong to Ji-Lu Mandarin.

9. Religion

Currently, Tianjin, like other parts of mainland China, has five religions officially recognized by the government: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity. Buddhism and Taoism were introduced relatively early. Islam was introduced during the Yuan Dynasty when Tianjin was just forming as a settlement and is also known as Hui religion. Catholicism and Protestant Christianity were introduced in 1847 and 1860, respectively, and have experienced major crises such as the Tianjin Church Incident, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Cultural Revolution. In the first half of the 20th century, Judaism and Eastern Orthodoxy also existed in Tianjin but ceased activities after expatriates left China in the mid-20th century. Today, only historical sites remain, with no religious functions. Tianjin has a total of 267,000 religious adherents and nearly 200 religious professionals. Since 1979, 79 religious activity sites have been restored and reopened. Among them, the Dabei Yuan Temple (Buddhism), the Wanghailou Church and Xikai Church (Catholicism), the Grand Mosque (Islam), the Anglican Church (Protestant Christianity), as well as the Tianjin Tianhou Palace and Yuhuang Pavilion (Taoism) are all designated cultural heritage sites.

10. Culture

Tianjin's early culture was a product of the compatibility between canal culture and maritime culture, characterized by a dual nature of "openness-conservatism," and it was among the first in modern China to be influenced by Western culture. Since the early opening of the traditional Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the grain transport culture formed the initial shape of Tianjin's traditional urban culture. Following the opening of the port in the late Qing Dynasty, the introduction of modern industrial and commercial civilization and Western culture weakened the traditional indigenous culture of Tianjin, gradually integrating diverse cultures from all directions. This gave rise to a Tianjin urban culture that blends Chinese and Western elements, evident in aspects such as cuisine, folk customs, art, and architecture, with modern drama being particularly prominent. In June 2015, the School of Literature at Nankai University established the Tianjin Studies Research Center, focusing primarily on Tianjin culture.

10.1 Performing Arts

Tianjin is the birthplace, flourishing ground, and development hub for many forms of Chinese folk performing arts, earning it the title "Hometown of Quyi." Among these, Tianjin folk songs (Tianjin Shidiao), Tianjin clapper talk (Tianjin Kuaiban), Jingdong drum singing (Jingdong Dagu), Beijing-style drum singing (Jingyun Dagu), and clapper talk (Kuaibanshu) originated in Tianjin. Meanwhile, Peking opera, Hebei clapper opera (Hebei Bangzi), cross talk (Xiangsheng), Ping opera (Pingju), storytelling (Pingshu), single-string ballad (Danxian), Meihua drum singing (Meihua Dagu), and Xihe drum singing (Xihe Dagu) flourished and developed in Tianjin.

Cross talk in Tianjin began in the late Qing and early Republican periods. In the 1920s, Tianjin's storytelling houses and teahouses gradually began hosting cross talk performances. After 1949, traditional cross talk artists in Tianjin reformed the content of cross talk, removing undesirable elements, which led to its rapid popularization. Today, traditional cross talk can be heard in theaters and teahouses throughout Tianjin. Famous cross talk masters or performers from Tianjin include Ma Sanli, Hou Baolin, Chang Baokun, Gao Yingpei, Ma Ji, Feng Gong, and Guo Degang.

Peking opera was introduced to Tianjin during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and began to flourish during the Tongzhi era. There was a saying: "Learn the art in Beijing, become famous in Tianjin, make money in Shanghai." In 1930, the election of the "Four Queens of Female Performers" held by the Tianjin-based Beiyang Pictorial caused a sensation. During the Cultural Revolution, the Tianjin Peking Opera Troupe only performed the "Eight Model Operas," while other Peking opera groups were disbanded until their restoration and the establishment of the Youth Peking Opera Troupe in the 1980s. The Tianjin Guangdong Guild Hall, built in 1907, is the largest and most completely preserved Qing Dynasty guild hall building in Tianjin. It now houses the Tianjin Drama Museum. Peking opera masters such as Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun, Ma Lianliang, and Xun Huisheng have performed on its stage. The China Grand Theatre, built in 1936, is another important performance venue in Tianjin's theatrical history. The industry saying "Become famous at the China, the China makes you famous" reflects the significant role the China Grand Theatre once played in the exchange and performance of Peking opera art.

Modern drama is a prominent representative of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures in Tianjin. As early as 1901, educator Zhang Boling began advocating for drama. His brother, Zhang Pengchun, was the first Chinese to study modern dramatic art abroad and an early drama activist and director who introduced Western realist theater to China. In 1906, Li Shutong and his classmate Zeng Xiaogu founded the amateur drama group "Spring Willow Society" in Tianjin and performed La Dame aux Camélias, pioneering modern Chinese drama. Tianjin playwright Cao Yu set plays like Thunderstorm against the backdrop of Tianjin during the Republican era. Other notable figures in Tianjin's drama scene include Jiao Juyin, Yu Shizhi, Lin Zhaohua, and Xie Tian.

10.2 Film and Music

The Chinese term for "movie" or "film" (电影, diànyǐng) originated in Tianjin. In June 1905, Tianjin's Ta Kung Pao published an advertisement by the British merchant firm Quicksell & Co. titled "Sale of Moving Electric Shadow Play," which stated, "We have newly imported from abroad a set of the latest movie machines..." This is the first documented appearance of the term "电影" in combination. Subsequently, thanks to the influence of Ta Kung Pao in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the term "电影" became widespread. In 1896, the French company Pathé first screened films at the Tianfeng Stage in the French Concession of Tianjin. In January 1907, China's earliest cinema, the Quanxian Electric Playhouse, was born on Rue du Baron Gros. In the 1930s, Tianjin had over 80 cinemas and film distribution companies, screening 287 domestic and foreign films in a year, including 52 domestic productions. In 1945, American film companies like Universal Pictures, Paramount, Fox, Warner Bros., and Soviet film companies successively established offices in Tianjin. Chinese-funded film companies in Tianjin included Guanghua Film and Drama Company and Bohai Film Company.

In the 1930s, classical musicians such as Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, and Sergei Rachmaninoff performed in Tianjin. Li Shutong was a pioneer in introducing Western music to China. His lyrics for the song "Farewell Song" (送别歌), taught as a school song in new-style schools in the early Republican period, became widely popular and enduring, now considered a classic in Chinese music history. In the 1950s, the Central Conservatory of Music and the Tianjin Conservatory of Music were established in Tianjin. Both institutions have trained many modern musicians and vocalists. In 1988, Tianjin musician Su Cong won the 60th Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the film The Last Emperor, becoming the first Chinese to win an Oscar. Furthermore, Wang Shen, the composer of "Ode to the Motherland" (歌唱祖国), often called the "second national anthem," and Liu Huan, one of the singers of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony theme song "You and Me," are both from Tianjin. The premiere of "Ode to the Motherland" took place in the auditorium of Tianjin's Yaohua School. In 2021, the Tianjin Juilliard School opened in Yujiapu.

10.3 Painting, Calligraphy, and Folk Customs

Tianjin literature is an amalgamation of "Tianjin-flavored literature" and "Wei-style literature." Historically, it has intermittently showcased regional cultural characteristics, such as the emergence of "Tianjin-flavored novels," but the regionality and continuity of "Tianjin literature" are not particularly pronounced. Romantic, martial arts, and social novels thrived in Tianjin. After 1949, the Tianjin literary scene was dominated by writers, poets, and dramatists from the liberated areas, such as Sun Li's The First Storm and Jinmen Xiaoji, which were born during this period. The Tianjin literary circle faces issues such as a lack of writers outside the system and young writers. Writer Feng Jicai is a representative figure in Tianjin's literary world.

Tianjin has a long history of painting. During the Kangxi and Qianlong eras, the painting circles of Beijing and Tianjin were important strongholds of orthodox painting styles. After the 17th century, painting in Tianjin gradually took shape, with artists like Guo Kun, Jin Yugang, and Shen Quan rising to prominence. At that time, the Tianjin painting scene mostly represented the continuation of local cultural traditions or the dissemination of Beijing-style art to other regions. Additionally, influenced by concession culture and Shanghai-style art, it featured a blend of Chinese and Western characteristics. In the late Qing Dynasty, Tianjin painters focused more on floral subjects, using European pigments to achieve bright and vivid colors. The early Tianjin calligraphy circle had four masters: Hua Shikui, Meng Guanghui, Yan Xiu, and Zhao Yuanli. The calligraphy and painting skills of Master Hongyi (Li Shutong) were also exquisite.

Tianjin's folk arts listed as national-level intangible cultural heritage include Tianjin Peking opera, Tianjin folk songs (Tianjin Shidiao), Yangliuqing woodblock New Year pictures, Clay Figurine Zhang painted sculptures, cross talk, Jinmen ritual drumming (Jinmen Fagu), Hangu flying cymbals (Hangu Feicha), and Beijing-style drum singing (Jingyun Dagu). Its extended projects include Ping opera, Hebei clapper opera, the craftsmanship of Tianjin kite-making by the Wei family, and the Tianjin Imperial Fair (Tianjin Huanghui). Although Tianjin has numerous intangible cultural heritages, most still suffer from low popularity. Clay Figurine Zhang painted sculptures are an important representative of Tianjin's folk art, once included in the gift lists for Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th and 70th birthdays. Many political figures and celebrities, such as Li Hongzhang, sought to have their portraits sculpted by them.

10.4 Publishing and Media

After Tianjin became a treaty port, alongside the development of economic trade and foreign exchanges, mass media as carriers of information exchange and dissemination also flourished. Foreigners established various publications in the Tianjin concessions. Modern news dissemination in Tianjin primarily took the form of newspapers and periodicals. In the early 1930s, Tianjin published over 30 newspapers with a total circulation exceeding 290,000 copies, including 187,000 copies distributed locally. Local Tianjin newspapers and periodicals sprouted and developed relatively early in modern times due to the special political and public opinion environment of the concessions. In 1886, Tianjin's first newspaper, The Chinese Times, founded in the British Concession by Gustav Detring, the Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service (a British national of German descent), and集资 with British merchant Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s manager, G. R. G. (笳臣), was published in Chinese and English editions. In June 1902, Ta Kung Pao, founded by Ying Lianzhi (英敛之), was first published in the French Concession of Tianjin. In the same year, China's first official newspaper, Beiyang Official Gazette, was published in Tianjin. Subsequently, Tianjin successively published newspapers and periodicals such as Beiyang Pictorial, Freedom Evening News, New Life Evening News, Public Evening News, People's Evening News, Night News, and Republican Evening News.After 1949, all Chinese and foreign newspapers in Tianjin were taken over, reorganized, or ceased publication. The current Tianjin newspaper industry is dominated by two major newspaper groups: Tianjin Daily and Jinwan Bao. In 2011, Tianjin Radio, Television, and Film Group, Tianjin People's Broadcasting Station, and Tianjin Television merged to form Tianjin Broadcasting Television Station, which operates nine television channels. Local media in Tianjin primarily focus on reporting positive news, with weak investigative journalism. Tianjin lacks well-known media outlets, journalists, and news reports, earning it the nickname "the city without news." In 2016, to adapt to new media trends, three media organizations in Tianjin launched mobile apps: Jinwan Bao developed the "Wenjin" app, Beifang Wang developed the "Qianyan" app, and Tianjin Daily developed the "News 117" app. However, all three apps were discontinued after just two years and merged into Jinyun. Starting in January 2018, publications such as Holiday 100, Caifeng Bao, Qiumi, and Bohai Morning Post ceased publication. In November of the same year, the original Tianjin Daily Press (Tianjin Daily Newspaper Group), Jinwan Bao Press (Jinwan Media Group), Tianjin Broadcasting Television Station, Tianjin Radio and Television Media Group, China Technology Market News, and Tianjin Newspaper Printing Center were dissolved, and these institutions merged to form the new Tianjin Haihe Media Center.

10.5 Cuisine and Specialties

Tianjin cuisine, known for its fresh and savory flavors, originated among the common people and has a history of over 300 years. Its formation and development are closely linked to the grain transport system and salt merchants. The establishment of the Juqingcheng Restaurant to celebrate the ascension of Emperor Kangxi marked the formalization of Tianjin cuisine. After Tianjin opened as a commercial port in 1860, Western cuisine gradually made its way into the city, with the Kiessling Restaurant, opened by German Albert Kiessling in 1907, being a notable example.

Representative dishes of Tianjin cuisine include the "Eight Big Bowls," "Four Big Braised Dishes," "Four Winter Delicacies," and "Guota Liji" (pan-fried pork tenderloin). Tianjin boasts a wide variety of snacks and specialties, with the "Three Unique Delicacies of Tianjin"—Goubuli steamed buns, Shibajie fried dough twists, and Erduoyan fried rice cakes—being the most famous. Other local snacks include sugar-coated haws on a stick, pancake wraps with eggs, chatang (sweet tea soup), Zhang's peanuts, Zhang's crispy beans, Zhang's leather candy, miancha (savory millet porridge), Yangcun rice cakes, sugar-roasted chestnuts, shuligao (steamed pear cake), guotie (potstickers), and over a hundred others. However, some snacks lack promotion and are now at risk of being lost. Tianjin's local breakfast is particularly distinctive and diverse, featuring dishes such as jianbing guozi (savory crepes), guobacai (crispy pancake soup), laodoufu (old tofu), guozi (fried dough sticks), zhagao (fried rice cakes), sujuanquan (vegetarian rolls), and wontons. Jianbing guozi and guobacai have been included in Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage list.

Local specialties of Tianjin include sugar-roasted chestnuts, Tianjin winter vegetables, Duliu aged vinegar, Beitang shrimp paste, and Yangcun rice cakes.

11. Sister City Regions

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin established its first sister city relationship with Kobe, Japan on June 24, 1973. This marked the first such relationship between China and Japan, as well as the first between China and any foreign country. Since then, Tianjin's international exchanges have gradually expanded, and it has established sister city or friendly exchange relationships with over 50 regions across five continents, including Philadelphia, Melbourne, Ulaanbaatar, Kyiv, Milan, and Incheon.

Tianjin Sister Cities
The following list shows regions that currently have sister city or friendly cooperative relationships with Tianjin
Kobe, Japan (1973)
Philadelphia, USA (1979)
Fitchburg, USA (1980)
Rishon LeZion, Israel (1980)
Melbourne, Australia (1980)
Yokkaichi, Japan (1980)
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1981)
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (1984)
Milan, Italy (1985)
Groningen, Netherlands (1985)
Chiba, Japan (1986)
Kutaisi, Georgia (1987)
Plovdiv Province, Bulgaria (1989)
Izmir, Turkey (1991)
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (1992)
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (1992)
Kharkiv, Ukraine (1993)
Kyiv, Ukraine (1993)
Jönköping, Sweden (1993)
Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea (1993)
Łódź, Poland (1994)
Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (1995)
Amazonas State, Brazil (1997)
Dallas, USA (1995)
Town of Clarence, USA (1997)
Haiphong, Vietnam (1999)
Turku, Finland (2000)
Thessaloniki, Greece (2002)
Nampo, North Korea (2002)
Hawaii, USA (2002)
East Java Province, Indonesia (2003)
Chicago, USA (2008)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2008)
Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea (2009)
Wellington, New Zealand (2011)
Oregon, USA (2014)
Cali, Colombia (2022)
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2023)

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The name Tianjin originates from the second year of the Yongle era in the Ming Dynasty (1404), bestowed by Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di. At that time, Zhu Di crossed the Southern Canal here on his journey south to contend for the throne. Believing the location to be an auspicious site with favorable feng shui, he renamed "Zhigu" to "Tianjin," meaning "the ford of the Son of Heaven."

Hexi District

Binhai New Area

Ethnicity

Han (98.8%) Hui (0.35%)

Velvet Ash

Rose