What's to do in Tianjin
#1
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What's to do in Tianjin
Now that you can ride the world's fastest train for 10 bucks (1st class) one way 30 minute ride.
What are the best things to see/do in Tianjin?
What are the best things to see/do in Tianjin?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Not much to be honest, I visit Tianjin twice or three times a year on business. I don't even stay over night in Tianjin now, just fly in on a early flight, and leave at 8pm.
Not an exciting place to visit, sorry.
Not an exciting place to visit, sorry.
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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My friends tell me that there is a very good bathhouse there (i.e. better than everything else in BJ and SH). The name escapes me, but email me (not PM) if you're interested and I'll follow up with one of my friends.
#4
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Never had time for China spa experiences. Went to check out
Queen Spa in Shenzhen but just picked up some literature to
pass on. But its always good to have more info on what's
available. Thx
Apparently some entity is spending money to revitalize the
old concession areas in Tianjin. Seems that could turn be
something to see. Its more real than Xintiandi Disneyland.
Queen Spa in Shenzhen but just picked up some literature to
pass on. But its always good to have more info on what's
available. Thx
Apparently some entity is spending money to revitalize the
old concession areas in Tianjin. Seems that could turn be
something to see. Its more real than Xintiandi Disneyland.
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,058
There's no need to be scared. You almost always wear a towel (right up until plunging). Furthermore, shortly after the "spa addiction" kicks in, you'll have no shame strutting around buck-naked,... and even conducting conference calls in the spa environment.
I should also point out that there's (almost) never any pressure to go for the more exotic massages, though I will admit that the place in Shijiazhuang (see xingjiang trip report) made a compelling sales pitch. Basically, $20 is sufficient to cover your entry fee plus the body scrub (add $10 for salt/milk/beer/tea/etc.)
In closing, spas are cool.
I should also point out that there's (almost) never any pressure to go for the more exotic massages, though I will admit that the place in Shijiazhuang (see xingjiang trip report) made a compelling sales pitch. Basically, $20 is sufficient to cover your entry fee plus the body scrub (add $10 for salt/milk/beer/tea/etc.)
In closing, spas are cool.
#7
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Actually, I started a thread right here on the topic in question about 2 years ago. Since there wasn't a lot of interest, that sucker died.
That having been said, you (in light of your TJ trip) have an opportunity to revive it.
Whether or not you decide to report about it, given the fact that your alternative is to hang out in a dreadful bar, I think you owe it to yourself to slot in some spa time before you hit the dreadful bar.
That having been said, you (in light of your TJ trip) have an opportunity to revive it.
Whether or not you decide to report about it, given the fact that your alternative is to hang out in a dreadful bar, I think you owe it to yourself to slot in some spa time before you hit the dreadful bar.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Taiwan
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Posts: 718
Tianjin has some interesting historical sites. Since Tianjin development was long neglected in favor of Beijing (or so they say), the old foreign concession area was ignored till recently. So instead of it all being bulldozed, a good bit has survived and is now being resuscitated, to a degree. Anyway, there's a few blocks of interesting Japanese/Italian/German architecture from the early 20th c. There are a number of Chinese temples that are not as crowded as in BJ. Also preserved is the Catholic Church where a major riot broke out in 1870 (and the French consul killed) over rumors that nuns and priests were killing Chinese children to use their body parts in concoctions. And now a museum is the Italianate home of Liang Qichao, late Qing intellectual and early Republican intellectual/politician (he lived in Tianjin since he was safer from arrest or assassination there than in Beijing).
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 221
Only interesting thing I ever found in Tianjin was the big market area by the metro/train station towards the new dev area. I made my way to the back one day and found a ton of Craftsman tools being sold for pennies on the dollar. Scooped up as many wrenches and tools as I could (busted or not). I felt like a thieve buying 3/4" and 1" ratchets for $5. 1" deep impact sockets were like $0.50.
This was a few yrs ago, so this may not be the case anymore.
This was a few yrs ago, so this may not be the case anymore.
#10
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almost everywhere. Too bad more places don't stock western liquors..or at least not charge 8 dollars for a weak drink. Guess its best to carry along a flask until you get to one of the dreadful bars.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2003
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At least in Beijing, go to Kai, or any of Huxley's joints. No guarantee on authenticity (I stick to Qingdao beers and Gin and Tonics) and have paid 10 RMB for each drink. Other drinks can be had for 20-30. Haven't had the fake liquor hangover yet from either place, though I think friends have...
#12
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At least in Beijing, go to Kai, or any of Huxley's joints. No guarantee on authenticity (I stick to Qingdao beers and Gin and Tonics) and have paid 10 RMB for each drink. Other drinks can be had for 20-30. Haven't had the fake liquor hangover yet from either place, though I think friends have...
the middle kingdom. The last one got me from LA to Kansas city on Southwest
airlines. Will pm you for the addresses.
#13
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It is with great pride that I tell the forum that my friends and I played an integral role in making the original Huxley's a success (everything from music to drink specials; though, we never managed to convince them of the worth of western toilets).
Around the time Huxley's was marked with the "chai" sign, Huxley and Gaolei "broke up". The former, armed with a big stack of cash, went on open a host of watering holes for BJ's youngsters (I always loved Nanjie, btw), while the latter focused on building up the Bar Street, Back Street, which was truly a wasteland ~5 years ago.
Gaolei is a nice guy and well deserving of his wealth. Furthermore, I sort of believe him when he claims they don't buy fake booze, though JW Blue for y30 a glass just doesn't pencil in my world.
In closing, at 34, I like to think that I've graduated from their target market, but I have to admit that those places still offer tons of excitement, even for older chaps like myself... certainly cooler than Susie Wong's (which was amazing during its first year.... before the business traveler set displaced the cool people, btw).
Around the time Huxley's was marked with the "chai" sign, Huxley and Gaolei "broke up". The former, armed with a big stack of cash, went on open a host of watering holes for BJ's youngsters (I always loved Nanjie, btw), while the latter focused on building up the Bar Street, Back Street, which was truly a wasteland ~5 years ago.
Gaolei is a nice guy and well deserving of his wealth. Furthermore, I sort of believe him when he claims they don't buy fake booze, though JW Blue for y30 a glass just doesn't pencil in my world.
In closing, at 34, I like to think that I've graduated from their target market, but I have to admit that those places still offer tons of excitement, even for older chaps like myself... certainly cooler than Susie Wong's (which was amazing during its first year.... before the business traveler set displaced the cool people, btw).
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
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It also used to be possible to do an interesting alley walk through the areas that were home to some of China's earliest industrial activity, visiting the Sān Tiáo Lìshǐ Bówùguǎn (museum) with its mouldering Victorian-era machinery (could sometimes be hard to wake up the caretaker to let you in), a small mosque, and places serving Tianjin's famous snacks (not just gǒubùlǐ but also ěrduǒyǎn, deep-fried rice snacks filled with sweet bean paste, eaten hot). But I dare say, from what I saw on my last rather hasty visit, much of that area has been flattened.
The Guangdong Guildhall and Theatre Museum, in the centre of the old Chinese city, with its well-preserved traditional opera theatre is well worth a view.
Best of all, though, is the Shí Jiā Dàyuán, about 16km west of the city centre, which is a multi-courtyard merchant's mansion of considerable extravagance, to rival some of the better-known examples in the Shanxi countryside around Pingyao.
If business takes you there from Taipei, this is well worth getting out to see.
Peter N-H
China
Last edited by Peter_N-H; Jan 16, 2009 at 11:21 am Reason: Corrected some nonsense, and a typo.