2 Days Tianjin Highlights Tour — European Heritage & Hai River

2 Days | Tianjin | from $289 | China Wonder Tours

Tour Overview

Discover Tianjin — China's most cosmopolitan port, where colonial boulevards, Italian villas, and a Ferris wheel over the Hai River create a cityscape unlike anywhere else in China. Just 30 minutes from Beijing by high-speed train, Tianjin rewards visitors with its unique East-meets-West heritage: the Five Great Avenues (Wudadao) with 2,000+ European-style buildings from the 1920s, the Porcelain House — a French mansion encrusted with millions of ancient porcelain shards, and the Italian Style Town. Add Tianjin's legendary street food culture (jianbing, goubuli baozi, mahua) and the iconic Tianjin Eye, and you have a perfect 2-day city break.

2 Days

Duration

from $289

Per Person

Tianjin

Destination

Private

Tour Type

Tour Highlights

What's Included

What's Excluded

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1European Tianjin

Arrive in Tianjin (30 min high-speed train from Beijing). Morning: Five Great Avenues (Wudadao) — five parallel streets lined with over 2,000 Western-style villas built during Tianjin's treaty-port era (1860-1945). Rent a bike or take a horse-drawn carriage. Each mansion has a story — foreign consulates, warlords, and merchant princes who shaped modern Chinese history. Visit the Former Residence of Zhang Xueliang (the "Young Marshal") and the Qing Dynasty Prince's Mansion. Afternoon: Porcelain House (Cifang) — the most extraordinary house you'll ever see. A 100-year-old French mansion entirely covered — walls, pillars, ceilings — with millions of ancient porcelain pieces, crystals, agate, and 4,000+ antique vases, valued at over $800 million. The owner spent 8 years creating this singular masterpiece. Then Jingyuan Garden — the former residence of Puyi, China's last emperor, who lived here 1925-1931 with his wife Wanrong. Evening: Italian Style Town — Marco Polo Square, the梁启超饮冰室 (Liang Qichao's study), and Italian restaurants. Then Tianjin Eye — ride the 120m Ferris wheel built directly ON a bridge across the Hai River (unique in the world). The night view of Tianjin's illuminated skyline is spectacular. Overnight in Tianjin.

Day 2Cultural Tianjin

Morning: Ancient Culture Street (Gu Wenhua Jie) — a pedestrian street of Qing Dynasty-style buildings selling traditional crafts: Yangliuqing New Year paintings (woodblock prints), Clay Figure Zhang (life-like painted clay sculptures), and kites. Visit the Tianhou Palace (Mazu Temple) — one of the world's oldest Mazu temples (1326), dedicated to the sea goddess worshipped by sailors. Then the St. Joseph Cathedral (Xikai Church) — a Romanesque cathedral built by French Jesuits in 1916, with three massive green copper domes. Still an active Catholic church. Afternoon: food tour! Tianjin's street food is legendary — try jianbing (savory crepe with egg, crispy cracker, scallions, and sauces — Tianjin is its birthplace), goubuli baozi (legendary steamed buns — the name means "dogs don't pay attention" because the maker was so focused on his craft), mahua (deep-fried twisted dough with sesame), and erduoyan zhagao (fried rice cakes). Visit Nanshi Food Street — a covered market of 100+ food stalls. Transfer to Tianjin station (or 30 min to Beijing).

Travel Tip: Tianjin is the perfect Beijing add-on — the high-speed train takes 30 minutes and runs every 10-15 minutes. The Porcelain House is jaw-dropping but admission is pricey (~50 CNY) — worth it. Tianjin people are famously friendly and humorous — don't be surprised if locals chat with you. Best time: September-October (comfortable, clear skies — the Hai River is beautiful at night). Tianjin can be hot and humid in July-August.

Inquire About This Tour