View of the Eye of Tianjin in Beijing, China
With panoramic views of the city, there's no question as to why the Tianjin Eye is the city's number one attraction. Grab your camera and step onto the Ferris Wheel on Yongle Bridge along the Haihe River. On a clear, sunny day, you can see for miles.
Lantern colorful pavilions in an old colonist city called Tianjin in Beijing China
Wu Da Dao, or the Five Great Avenues, is a history buff's dream. Board a horse-drawn cart and transport yourself back into time to see how colonists lived in Tianjin. Home to historical villas from the last two centuries, the Five Great Avenues is a section of the city begging to be explored.
A product of the golden age and northern China's largest Catholic church, the XiKai Church was built in 1916 and is still in use today. Visit the church to admire the Roman- and French-inspired architecture, or catch a service in English or Chinese during your Beijing cruise.
Follow your nose to Tianjin Goubuli for a goubuli steamed stuffed bun — the mouth-watering snack is stuffed with chicken and accompanied by sesame oil, soy sauce and ginger. Or, if you're looking for something sweeter, sink your teeth into a ma hau, a fried dough twist deep-fried in peanut oil and stuffed with bean paste.
Wander to the Tianjin Shenyangdao Antique Market to test out your haggling skills during your Beijing cruise. You'll find jade jewelry, porcelain items and copper handicrafts. Afterwards, find your way to Ancient Culture Street for silks, animal-shaped Weiji kites and Niren Zhang, the painted clay figurines that are traditional to the Tianjin area.