Quanyechang Shopping Mall

Tianjin is a low-profile city in the coastal area in north China. Its Western-style mansions in past colonial cessions have long lost glamour and vitality as the North Sea Warlord rule ended in the early 20th century. The city has no grandeur and solemnity as Beijing, no metropolitan prosperity or hubbub as Shanghai, and no hilly and riverside charms as Chongqing . But when you really incorporate yourself into it, you can taste a truly different flavor of the city.

On the Five Avenues or Jiefang North Street or along the banks of Haihe River, arrays of colonial architectures featuring Greek parlors, Rome Archways and tiger windows are quietly hidden in shadows of green trees. The Western-style charms of past colonial cessions have brought me back to the early 20th century - jinrikisha, neon lights, perfumes, wines...

Colonial architectures are the logo of Tianjin, just as Eiffel Tower is the landmark of Paris. Joys and sorrows of the city are all printed on appearances of those Western-style buildings. That is why Chairman Mao used to say, "Courtyard houses in Beijing, Western-style mansions in Tianjin."

 Gone with the Wind

Tianjin literally means "emperor's ferry" in Chinese. Thanks to its strategic location, a fort was built here 601 years ago and it gradually developed into the guarding gate of Beijing, capital city of the past Ming and Qing dynasties. As it was also a hub for river and maritime transportation and a salt production and wholesale base, Tianjin evolved from a military fort into a prosperous business and financial center and a major trade port in the late 19th century. By 1840, it had been a big business city with a population of 440,000.

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