Tianjin
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Even if days were 53 hours long there would still not be enough time, regardless of how lengthy the visit, to experience all of Tianjin’s magic. A rare balance between past and present infuses its downtown with character and diversity. Ancient temples share the same streets with pulsing nightclubs, creating the weird illusion of being inside a time machine piloted by an indecisive tour guide. The nearby mountains abound with historical architecture turning Kodak moments into Kodak hours. Its easy access to the sea lends it the kind of water fun normally only enjoyed by small island villages and off-duty lifeguards. To visit Tianjin and ask, "What is there do," bears the same irrelevance as visiting Siberia in winter and asking, "How should I dress?"
Tianjin’s festivals share one common theme: stratospherically huge. The Spring Festival, especially bolsters this assertion. Better known as the Chinese New Year (fluctuates between mid- to late January) it enjoys legendary status as the nation’s largest party. Dragon dancers seemingly wind through every street and the evening’s fireworks show serves as a convincing reminder that the Chinese invented these sparkle bombs. The Lantern Festival (varies from late January to mid-February) also rates high and features revelers traipsing through the streets carrying elaborately decorated lanterns. The Chinese Rose Festival in mid-May bestows a seven-day hurray upon the area’s favorite flower and is highlighted by a huge grand opening parade. The Mid-Autumn Festival involves gazing at the full moon and noshing on cakes made of meat, sugar and bean paste.
Downtown abounds with so many diversions that some claim Tianjin’s "Things To Do" brochure exhibits the same thickness as a New York City telephone book. Ancient Culture Street and the Antique Market enjoy legendary status for their bounty of Chinese prints, clay figurines, kites, jade sculptures and other artistic wonders. Food Street with its collection of more than 100 restaurants represents a culinary Shangri-La. And for evening joviality Sgt. Pepper’s provides live music, including Beatle’s tunes, while Kanghao and the NYC Music Kitchen are renowned for dancing.
Architectural wonders are so numerous that even Rome is jealous of Tianjin. The Grand Mercy Monastery dates back to the Ming dynasty and rates as one of the largest Zen temples in China, and the Grand Mosque, built in 1644, abounds with Muslim influences including Koran scripture carvings. The Catholic Church, one of downtown’s most distinctive landmarks, mirrors the look of a calico cat with orange and black horizontal brick stripes dominating its façade. It is worthy of at least seven snapshots. The Confucian Temple also warrants a look.
But for serious awe and wonder wander north into the high country. The Dule Temple, in Jixian City, was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is highlighted by the 70-foot tall Eleven Faced Guanyin statue. Just 10 miles further north towers Mount Pan and its jagged peaks full of views, hiking trails and ancient temples. Most stunning of all is the Great Wall at Huangyuan Pass. Erected 1,400 years ago, it stands as one of the planet’s greatest manmade landmarks. And unlike the Beijing wall sections, this location does not suffer from crowds.
If the agenda calls for something more active, golf courses are many. The Huana International Golf Club’s close downtown location makes it very popular, while the Yangliuqing Golf Club borders a forest making it one of the most scenic courses in China. The Seaside Amusement Park, located south of the city along the Bohai Sea, features water-slides perfect for screaming "weee," and impacting heated pool water at very high speeds. The Dongli Lake Hot Spring Holiday Resort, just 20 miles north of downtown, offers water-skiing, fishing, sailing and swimming. For a leisurely city stroll wander into Shuishang Park, Tianjin’s largest. Its glorious setting of ponds, weeping willows, and decorated pavilions resembles a real-life Monet painting.
