(photo from internet)

By the rim of Bohai Gulf - the Gold Coast of North China, on the west coast of the vast Pacific Ocean, stands a metropolis, Tianjin, which is 137 kilometres southeast of Beijing.

The city gradually took shape in the 12th century when more and more settlements were established. It was a county town in the Qing Dynasty and became a municipality in 1928. Together with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, it is one of the 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government of the People's Republic of China, and the largest open seaport in north China. It ranks the 15th among the largest cities in the world.

Tianjin covers a total area of 11,300 square kilometers, with 153 kilometers of coastline and facing Japan, Korea and the Republic of Korea. It is divided into 13 districts and 5 counties and has a total population of over 9.3 million. It only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes by train or 2 hours' drive from Tianjin to the capital city - Beijing.

(photo from internet)

The name “Tianjin” means “Emperor's Ford”, or “the point where the Son of Heaven once forded the river”. The “Son of Heaven” referred to Zhu Di, Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty. In those days, imperial tribute grain from the southern parts of the country was shipped to the capital city by the Grand Canal, which flows through Tianjin. Through the years, the city has now become one of the largest international trading ports and industrial and commercial metropolises in China, second only to Shanghai.

The climate of Tianjin is a temperate, continental-type monsoon climate with the four seasons distinct from one another. The mean temperature of the year is 12.2 ℃ with that of January being -4 ℃ and that of July 26.8 ℃. The average annual rainfall is 559.1mm, most of which is concentrate in summer. In winter, the port is frozen over for 80 days.

(photo from internet)

With a history of over 600 years and influence of western powers, Tianjin surprises visitors with temples and other historical relics, commemorative sites of the Chinese revolution, as well as some colonial architecture which illustrates its past.

On the south gate of Tianjin Old City, there is Guangdong Assembly Hall built in the 33rd year of Guangxi Emperor's ruling period (1907); there is an Islamism Mosque in the northwestern corner built in the 42nd year of Kangxi Emperor's ruling period (1703); a Queen of Heaven Palace on the northeastern corner of the city, built in Yuantaiding 3rd year (1326), which was used for sacrificing navigation eudemon, and a Jade Emperor Pavilion which is built in the 2nd year of Xuande Emperor's ruling period (1427) in Ming Dynasty. Beside the Lion Forest Bridge there is a Zion and a church built in the 30th year of Guangxu Emperor's ruling period in Qing Dynasty (1904). What's more, the Laoxi Kai Church at Dushan Road, Binjing Avenue, Heping District also opens for foreigners.