|
Old Colonial Architectures in Tianjin
In the mid-19th century, several wars to resist Western colonial invaders
broke out in Tianjin but the Qing court won none of them. In 1860, Tianjin was
forced to open up as a business port and nine imperialist nations established
cessions in the city. In the following 100 years, the city witnessed ceaseless
fights against imperial rule.
Whenever I stand in front of those Western-style mansions or walk along
streets lined up with villas in past colonial cessions, I had a special feeling.
The landscape before my eyes are beautiful, but I couldn't help thinking of
artilleries and troops of allied imperialist forces.
 Diversity of Western-style Mansions
 |
 |
|
The Gordon
Hall |
Former British
Club |
The Five Avenues neighborhood used to be swags and hog
wallows in the southern part of the city. From 1919 to 1926, the construction
department of the British Cession used silts from Haihe River to fill the hollow
and built roads here. Thus a transport network was gradually developed. Western
companies and churches as well as some Chinese businesses built a large number
of Western-style mansions and villas in the neighborhood, forming a unique
landscape of the city.
In the early 20th century, Tianjin enjoyed special
advantages. On one hand, its cessions provided shelters for resigned statesmen.
On the other hand, Tianjin was full of business opportunities thanks to its
ideal geographical location and convenient transport and customs facilities. As
a result, powerful figures and wealthy persons rushed to buy or rent those
Western- style mansions which were much more comfortable than traditional
Chinese courtyard houses. The Fifth Avenues neighborhood therefore became a rich
community.
|
|
E-Mail
This Article 
Print
Friendly Format 
