Tianjin has a long and illustrious history,
from an ordinary fishing village to the most important trade
center in Northern China. Tianjin was considered to be one of
China's most important military fortresses in the Yuan Dynasty
(1271-1368) due to its particular geographic location as
access point to Beijing, the national capital. Its name
"Tianjin" was graciously bestowed by the Emperor Zhudi in the
early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Tianjin means
"the place where the emperor crossed the river". In 1860,
after the First Opium War, Tianjin was further expanded to
become the second largest business and communications center
in the country. By the end of the 19th century, it had grown
into a bustling center for international
commerce.
Strolling in the streets, you may see
vestiges of western architecture in many parts of the city.
There still remain more than 1,000 buildings constructed
during the period between the end of the 19th century and
1930's displaying eastern or western architectural styles.
Take a walk along Jie Fang Bei Road, and the famous five great
roads, etc., to find the relics of the colonial
times.
Tianjin has had great importance politically,
culturally and economically. There is so much to see, do and
enjoy. Tianjin has rich tourism resources and three scenic
spots have been set up and continuously perfected the downtown
sightseeing spot along the Haihe River, the Tanggu seaside
recreational area characterized by the Port of Tianjin and the
Bohai Gulf, and the Jixian County sightseeing district famous
for its mountains and historic relics.
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