City Introduction

Tianjin City, “Jin” for short, is one of the four municipalities in China, which is the largest coastal open city in Northern China, and has long been known as the “Pearl of Bohai Sea”. Previously, Tianjin was also called Jingu, Zhigu, Dinggu, Jinmen, etc., and after Zhu Di, Prince of Yan of Ming, crossed the river here and seized the throne, he gave it a name of “Tianjin”, meaning “a place where the emperor crosses the river.”

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Over four thousand years ago, the sea floor gradually came out in the place where Tianjin is located now, and formed the alluvial plain. The place where today’s Tianjin is located was originally the sea, and before redirection of the Yellow River, it was formed by alluvial silt; the old Yellow River once shifted its course for three times, and ran to the sea near Tianjin; 3000 years ago, it ran to the sea near Ninghe County; in the Western Han Dynasty, it ran to the sea near Huanghua County; and in the Northern Song, it ran to the sea near the southern suburbs of Tianjin.

In the Jin Dynasty, the Yellow River moved southwards, and drained into the Huai River and then ran to the sea; the coastline of Tianjin was fixed then. Emperor Wu of Han set up salt official in Wuqing. After the Sui Dynasty built the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, the intersection of the South Canal and the North Canal (today’s Sancha River estuary of Jingang Bridge), historically called “Sanhui Sea Mouth”, is the earliest birthplace of Tianjin.

The Tang Dynasty opened up a salt field in Lutai, and set up a salt warehouse in Baodi. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was governed by the Liao State, and the “Zhuyanyuan” (a department in charge of salt affairs) was set in Wuqing, to administer salt industry. During the period of the Southern Song Dynasty, the second year of Zhenyou of Jin (1214), Zhiguzhai was set at the Sanchakou, and street had been formed near today’s Hougong area. It is the earliest name of Tianjin.

Yuan Dynasty: The Yuan Dynasty changed the Zhiguzhai into Haijin Town, and it became a transfer center for the transportation of tribute rice. Dazhigu Salt Controller Office was set here to administer the production and sales of salt. Ming Dynasty: In the second year of Emperor Jianwen of Ming (1400), Zhu Di, a seignior guarding Beijing, crossed the canal here and headed northwards to contend for the throne with his nephew, Emperor Minghui. Later, Zhu Di became the Emperor Yongle, and named this place Tianjin in memory of the “Jingnan Campaign” on the twenty first day of the eleventh lunar month in the second year of Emperor Yongle (December 23, 1404 AD).

Qing Dynasty: In the ninth year of Emperor Shunzhi of Qing (1652), Tianjin Garrison, Tianjin Left Garrison and Tianjin Right Garrison were combined into Tianjin Garrison, where civil administration, salt controller, taxation, military departments, etc. were set here. During the period of Liberation War (1945-1949): on November 29, 1948, the Northeast Field Army of Chinese People's Liberation Army and the North China Military Area 2nd and 3th Corps as well as local armed forces waged strategic battle against the Kuo Min Tang Army in Beiping (today’s Beijing), Tianjin and Zhangjiakou, i.e., “Pingjin Campaign”.

At 5:00 a.m on January 15, 1949, East and West Storm Troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army joined forces triumphantly on the Jintang Bridge. On January 17, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army liberated Tanggu, and the whole Tianjin was liberated. Tianjin culture is the result of integration of canal culture and marine culture.

In terms of the early traditional culture, Caoyun Culture formed the initial form of Tianjin urban commercial civilization, but Tianjin’s urban cultural accumulation was finally shaped up from the port opening 150 years ago, when the introduction of modern industrial and commercial civilization, education, and scientific and technological culture rapidly expanded the elite culture of Tianjin; even though the civil culture was also developing, obviously it became the subculture. Tianjin culture, different from the culture of other places, has its unique style, which is open and independent. The biggest charm of Tianjin is the people here.

Among the cities in China, Tianjin is the largest commercial port in Northern China, which inevitably has the culture of transportation center and commercial port. In addition to this, it is also a birthplace of Chinese higher education. Beiyang University was in Tianjin. The earliest modern forces of China, i.e., Beiyang Land Force and Beiyang Fleet were also in Tianjin. The earliest post of China and the earliest Chinese stamp appeared in Tianjin. Therefore, Tianjin people have a broad outlook and have seen a great deal.

As Tianjin also belonged to Yan and Zhao States in ancient time, residents here still remain straightforward and plain temperament of the Yan and Zhao. Particularly due to its position of economic center in geography, rich merchants with property in Tianjin mostly come from Beijing and Tianjin. However, local people are mostly average men, which forms the unique civil culture of Tianjin.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Tianjin is located around 116°43’-118°04’E and 38°34’-40°15’N. The downtown is located around 117°10’ E and 39°10’N. It is located in the north of the North China Plain, bordering on the Bohai Sea to the east and Yanshan Mountain to the north. Tianjin is in the downstream of the Haihe River, spanning both sides of the Haihe River; it is a transportation railway junction for Beijing to lead to Northeast China and Eastern China and a port for ocean shipping, which is known as a “communications hub of river and sea” and a “portal of Jifu (Hebei, Tianjin and Beijing)”. The south-north span is 189 kilometers while the east-west span is 117 kilometers. Its continental sphere is 1,137 kilometers while the coastline is 153 kilometers. Its hinterland is wide: internally it radiates 13 provinces, cities and municipalities in northern, northeast and northwest of China, and externally, it faces the Northeast Asia; it is the largest coastal open city in the north of China.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Tianjin is located in the east coast of mid-latitude Eurasia in the North temperate zone, which is dominated by monsoon circulation, with the East Asian monsoon prevailing. It belongs to temperate semi-humid monsoon climate. As it borders on the Bohai Gulf, marine climate has an obvious impact on Tianjin. Its climate is characterized by distinct seasons: spring is dry, with more wind and less rain; summer is hot with concentrated precipitation; autumn is cool and moderate in temperature; winter is cold and dry and has less snow. Therefore, the end of spring and the beginning of summer as well as autumn are the best seasons for travel to Tianjin. The winter half year is dominated by northwest wind, with lower temperature and less precipitation; during the summer half year, subtropical warm anticyclone of the Pacific Ocean intensifies, and it is dominated by southerly wind, which makes it have a higher temperature and more precipitation. Spring draught occasionally occurs. Tianjin’s average temperature is about 14℃; July is the hottest, with the average monthly temperature of 28℃; the highest temperature on record is 41.6℃. January is the coldest, with the average monthly temperature of -2℃. The lowest temperature on record is -17.8℃. Its average annual precipitation is between 360mm and 970mm, and the average was about 600mm between 1949 and 2010.

 

 

 

 

Religion

There are 5 religions recognized by the government in Tianjin: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. There are totally 267,000 religious members, with nearly 200 religious workers. Since 1979, totally 79 religious activity places have been opened again, among which, the Buddhist Temple of Great Compassion is rated as a key Buddhist temple in the Han area, Wanghailou Church for Catholicism is listed as a key cultural relics protection site in China; Xikai Church, a Tianjin Catholic Church, The Grand Mosque of Islam, Christian Anglican Church, and Taoist Tianhou Temple and Yuhuang Pavilion are all culture relic protection sites of Tianjini.

 

 

 

 

Notes

The distance between Beijing and Tianjin is very close, with 1.5 hours’ traveling time after the inter-city train is built. This creates several advantages for a visitor: Firstly, Beijing flights are much more than Tianjin and often discount. So visitors coming from far way places can elect to land in Beijing and then transfer to Tianjin, which can save lots of money. Secondly, visitors can travel two places at a time, to experience the different style of two municipalities. Thirdly, Tianjin is close to sea and thus seafoods are relatively cheap and diversified; visitors who get bored with the royal dishes can go to Tianjin for a change.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Tianhou Temple Imperial Fair

Time: Twenty third day of the third lunar month, place: Tianhou Temple

Content: It is an activity to celebrate the birthday of Goddess of Tianhou (Queen of Heaven), which has a long history. Emperor Kangxi of Qing personally came to Tianjin to visit the flower fair of Tianhou Temple, and granted the fair flag, and therefore, it was named “Imperial Fair”. As Tianjin is close to the sea, many families make a living on the sea from generation to generation. But navigation is dangerous, and people’s fate is unpredictable on the sea, so they pray for the blessing of god. Goddess of Tianhou, which as the “Mazu” in Southern China, is a God of the Sea. Burning incense is popular in Tianjin and there are lots of Sacrificial Flower Fair activities.

On the twenty third day of the third lunar month (birthday of Goddess of Tianhou) every year, Tianhou Temple, located in the Ancient Cultural Street at the Sancha River estuary, will hold grand Loyal Fair performance, including dragon lantern fair, lion fair, Shaolin fair, stilts, Dharma Drum, land boat, etc.

Yongyin Dharma Drum Fair

Time: twenty third day of the third lunar month

Location： Tianhou Temple

Yongyin Dharma Drum Fair, originating from the period of Emperor Qianlong of Qing, has a history of over 200 years. Dharma Drum Tour Fair shows the grand scene in which the prince goes on a tour. Generally there are about 40 people for the Tour Fair, which are divided into “Wenchang” (literary scene) and “Wuchang” (martial scene). Over several hundred years of accumulation, Tianjin Dharma Drum, which is kind of comprehensive folk art that integrates folk music, dance, martial art, painting, and sculpture, with the folk customs, has participated in the folk festival days or important events in the form of flower fair.

Tianjin Beer Festival

Time: July of each year

Location： Nanshi Food Street or Water Park

Content: Tianjin Beer Festival is held in July of each year, generally in he Nanshi Food Street or Water Park. At that time, several famous brewery companies will come for exhibition. During the Beer Festival, there are various activities, including novel opening ceremony, traditional drinking game, fairs and sales of beer, lottery, photography competition, calligraphy meeting, modern singing and dancing, rock music, folk art forms, beer dishes competition, beer culture seminar, and various beer transactions, etc.

Tianjin Binhai Hangu Grape Culture Tourism Festival

Time: late August - late September of each year

In summer, Hangu shrimps and crabs are fat and fresh and grapes mellow. At that time, you can go to the sea for sightseeing and tasting seafood; or pick grapes in person in the vineyard to experience the sweetness and happiness of harvest; or stay in the farm house to go fishing by the lake side, pick fruits, and taste farm food, experiencing the tranquil and cozy natural views. During the festival, photography competition, essay contest, summer refreshing evening party, folk flower fair exhibition, international printmaking, lettering, ownership stamp, etc. will also be held.