One day tour to downtown Tianjin from Beijing by high speed train

We will pick you up at the hotel in the morning and go to Beijing South Railway Station. Then we will take the high speed train to Tianjin. The train departs around 9:00. Tianjin Railway Station is our first stop in Tianjin. Outside the station, you will get your first impression of Tianjin. It's a mordern CIty. You will see the Haihe River, Jinwan Plaza, Liberation Bridge and the Century Clock.

visit the former French concession and the former British concession along Jiefang North Road(Tianjin Financial Street). Visit the historical buildings such as the first post office of the Qing Dynasty, clubs, barracks, consulates, foreign firm buildings, police station, parliament buildings, Astor hotel, Anglican Church, etc. You can appreciate different styles of western architectures and learn about the stories that happened there 100 years ago as well the the earliest urban landscape of China.

Go to Xiaobailou(little White Building) area, the most properous area in Tianjin 100 years ago. Visit one of the four western restaurants in China, Keissling. The Five Grand Avenues is a traditional living quarter including 5 east-west streets. It was the biggest wealthy living area in China. Today it's featured by the former residence of historical celebrities and various buildings. It's called all countries architecture expo. We will visit there by car.

Italian Style Town is the center of the formmer Italian concession. Currently it becomes a recreational area for people to shop, eat and drink. There you can try a local street food (Chinse crepes/Tianjin Jianbing). You will see some other historic sites and buildings such as the Marcopolo Square, Piazza Dante, the former Italian club, the former residences of historical celebraties, etc. Then have lunch nearby.

Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street is a traditional style shopping street outside the Tianhou Palace which was the earliest building in Tianjin. It was built beside the confluence of three rivers）, the birth place of Tianjin. So there you can see the change and development of the city and experience the local folk-custom. You will see some local traditional handicrafts, such as Yangliuqing New Year Picture, and clay figure Zhang. You can also try some local snacks, like earhole fried rice cake, Shibajie fried dough twists, and watch a Tangshan shadow play.

Ferris Wheel is also known as Tianjin Eye, standing at the new confluence of three rivers, head of the Haihe River. It is the only Ferris wheel built on bridge across river in the world. We will just take a look at the view at a good spot and take a picture. No entry to it.

We will visit one of the former residences of celebrities in Tianjin on this tour---- Jingyuan (Jing Garden). It is the former residence of the Last Emperor of China, Puyi. He used to lived there for two years (1929---1931). You will learn about the history in that peroid.

You will see the porcelain House which is a French style little building decorated with porcelain pieces and porcelain vases and ornaments. Then have a walk around the traditional pedestrian shopping street in Tianjin, Heping Road and Binjiang Road. They are two busiest shopping street in modern Tianjin with a history of about 120 years. You will see some time-honored shops such as Quanyechang(Tianjin Bazaar) and modern shops on both sides of the street. Walking in the street, you can experience the commercial atmosphere and culture of the city.

Have a walk along the Haihe River. You can appreciate the river view and experience the local's lifestyles. After that, we go back to Tianjin Railway station, and wait to board the train. You will be back to Beijing South Railway Station around 19:40. The driver will get you back to hotel.