3 Days Tianjin Tour with Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple

Welcome to Tianjin, an international port city in Northern China! Upon your arrival at the airport, train station, or port of Tianjin, your driver will meet you at the exit and escort you to start your tour in Tianjin. The best way to explore Tianjin is through its architecture, street, food, bridges & riverside hike.

Free Time Ideas:
1.Tianjin Museum (Closed on Mondays): Overlooking Tianjin's 600 years of history by stepping into the Tianjin Museum, the "Window of the Century." Visit the Second Floor for the museum's treasures & the Third Floor for Tianjin's evolution as a modern city since the Opium War.
2.Italian Style Street: Home to over 200 well-preserved Western-style buildings, Italian Style Street is the only Italian concession in modern China. You won't miss Marco Polo Square, Dante Square, former residences of Liang Qichao and Cao Yu, Zhongshuge Bookstore and former Italian barracks. Nice streets for food, souvenirs and handicrafts.
3.Nanshi Food Street: It is more like a shopping mall than a food street. There are more than 200 kinds of snacks in the street, including Sichuan, Shandong, Gongdong, Italian cuisine, Russian cuisine, and other kinds of cuisines.

Good to Know:
1.Tianjin actually bears some similarities to Shanghai, especially in its mix of historical European architecture &modern development along the river. You will marvel at the colonial-era buildings (European villa) of China's Last Century. As Beijing's neighbor, Tianjin is a budget-friendly escape near Beijing, serving as a gateway to Northern China.
2.Tianjin is a Foodies’& Cultural Lovers’. Must-try Tianjin Food includes Goubuli Baozi (steamed buns), Tianjin Mahua (crispy fried twists) & Tianjin-style Pancakes. Tianjin is also famous for Yangliuqing New Year Paintings, Clay Figurines of Zhang & Tianjin Xiangsheng (Crosstalk相声), which showcase traditional Chinese artistry.
3.Tianjin Shore Excursion from Tianjin Port. Tianjin was built in 1404 (Ming Dynasty) as a water transport hub. Since 1860, Tianjin has been the gateway to the Bohai Sea. International cruise travelers can take a Tianjin Tour with a China 144-hour (6-day) Visa-Free Transit (effective Dec.17, 2024; double check with us).
4.Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty named Tianjin in 1404. The name "Tianjin" means "the ferry crossing where the Emperor passed through," referencing Zhu Di's crossing at that location.

Arrival Ideas:
1.Get to Tianjin by Tianjin International Cruise Home Port (天津国际邮轮母港), which Located about 70 km from the city center of Tianjin. This port is a significant international cruise port in Northern China. Contact us if you need Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer service.
2.How to get to Tianjin By Air: Tianjin Binhai International Airport is about 13 km away from downtown. Direct flights connect Tianjin with major cities in China, such as Shanghai (2h), Xian (2h), Chongqing (2h 50min), Chengdu (3h 10min), Guangzhou (3h 10min), etc. It's essential to check flight schedules in advance.
3.How to get to Tianjin By High Speed Train: Tianjin can be reached by train through Tianjin Railway Station & Tianjin South Railway Station. There are high-speed trains to Tianjin from Beijing (30 min), Shanghai (5.5h), Xian (6.5h), etc. Contact us for ticket booking.

This morning, head to Huangyaguan Great Wall, which is about 150 km (2.5 hours' drive) north of downtown Tianjin. Then, visit Dule Temple, one of China’s oldest surviving wooden structures (Tang Dynasty), before going back to Tianjin downtown for the night.

The Huangyaguan Great Wall was built on a ridge about 740 meters above the ground, winding its way among the mountains. One side of it is a cliff, while the other is a sheer rock face. Its name, Huangyaguan (Yellow Cliff Pass), is derived from the predominantly yellow-brown rocks on the eastern cliffs, which transform into a stunning golden hue at sunset. Known for its steep steps, watchtowers, and beautiful mountain scenery, Huangyaguan Great Wall offers a more serene Great Wall experience with fewer crowds than some of the more famous sections near Beijing.

Originally built in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577), the Huangyaguan Great Wall was repaired by Military strategist Qi Jiguang (1528-1588) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It has a total length of 42 km, 52 watch towers, and 14 beacon towers. You can enjoy a hike of about 2 hours (about 2.2 km) from the east section of Huangyaguan Great Wall (Taipingzhai) to the Huangyaguan Pass (Eight Diagram City), the castle in the valley in the west. Take your time to discover why it is praised as a miniature of the Great Wall of China. You can find features of many other sections of the Great Wall here, such as the "strong" of Badaling Great Wall, the "steep" of Jiankou Great Wall, and the "ancient" of Gubeikou Great Wall.

Besides hiking at the Huangyaguan Great Wall, there is also the Great Wall Museum and Bagua Town (Bagua Fortress; Eight Diagram City) for you to explore.

Notes:
1.Shuttle Bus between the two entrances of the Huangyaguan Great Wall: To make your hike easier, take the shuttle bus to Taipingzhai (about 30 minutes). From there, you'll enter the Huangyaguan Great Wall and hike downhill, saving energy and avoiding backtracking.
2.The Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon (42 km) is held on the third Saturday of May every year in Tianjin. The course, complete with challenging uphill and downhill sections, rigorously tests the physical strength and perseverance of participants.

After visiting Huanyaguan Great Wall, time to explore the over 1000-year-old Dule Temple, one of the only three remaining Liao Dynasty (916-1125) temples in China & the oldest surviving timber structure in Asia. The architecture, statues and murals of Dule Temple are three miracles.

The Dule Temple got its name, meaning "solitary joy," from An Lushan (whose courtesy name was An Dule), a general from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) who used to hold gatherings there. Most of the temple was rebuilt in 984. You can still see the original main gate (Shanmen) and the Guanyin Pavilion from that time (916-1125). Later, during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Xianfeng (1831-1861) had a temporary palace built at the temple. He used it as a resting spot when he visited the Eastern Qing Tombs in Hebei.

The Guanyin Pavilion (Kwan-yin Pavilion), the oldest extant pavilion architecture in China, is the star of Dule Temple. This amazing two-story wooden building, standing 23 meters tall, has survived at least 28 major earthquakes because it's built without any nails or rivets! Inside, you'll find the temple's greatest treasure: a 16-meter-tall colored clay statue of the Goddess Avalokitesvara. This is the largest statue of its kind in Asia, and it's considered one of China's most beautiful colored clay statues. As you enter, notice the walls covered in detailed murals of Buddhist figures. It's easy to feel a deep sense of peace here, as well as a window of learning about Buddhism.

Note: Just 300 meters south of Dule Temple, you'll find a thousand-year-old white tower. This tower perfectly blends Indian Buddhism with traditional Chinese architecture and culture.

After the tour, head back to Tianjin City.

Free Time Ideas:
1.Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel Ride (Self-pay): A ride (book 3 days in advance) offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city's skyline, Tianjin's Mother River, especially enchanting at night when lit up. Head back to Tianjin Port.
2.Haihe River Night Cruise (Self-pay): Haihe River Cruise is a relaxing boat ride on the Haihe River for the city’s skyline. (Book 7 days in advance; 19:30-20:30; available during April-Nov.). The night cruise is highly recommended for the best views of the Jiefang Bridge and Jin Tower light show.

Today, you will explore the must-visit landmarks of Tianjin, such as Five Great Avenues (Wudadao Area), Jingyuan Garden (Former Residence of Puyi, the Last Emperor), Porcelain House (China House), and Ancient Culture Street (Jinmen Guli).

You will first explore the Five Great Avenues (Wudadao Area), a historic district boasting over 2,000 European-style villas. Renowned as the "World Architecture Expo," Wudadao stands out as Tianjin's premier destination for a city walk. Within Wudadao lies half of Tianjin's history, once serving as a British concession from the late 19th to the 20th century. The area is comprised of five roads: Chongqing Road, Changde Road, Dali Road, Munan Road, and Machang Road.

For a classic Wudadao tour route, begin your journey from Chongqing Road (home to Minyuan Square), pass by the Little White House, continue along Munan Road (boasting numerous famous residences), visit the iconic clock of the Five Avenues, and conclude your visit. You won't miss the top attractions in Wudadao like the Little White House (Tianjin Concert Hall), Prince Qing's Palace (self-pay), Minyuan Square (a Wudadao landmark), Gedalou (built with glazed bricks), and Munan Park (view Tianjin’ Romantic). You can take a carriage ride (self-pay) or stroll along the streets to admire a blend of Italian, German, French, Spanish, and British architectural styles intermingled with old Chinese villas, providing a glimpse into China's modern history.

After that, pay a visit to Jingyuan Garden, the former Residence of Puyi, the Last Emperor. As you step into Jingyuan Garden, its unique Spanish-Japanese style house will immediately catch your eye. This residence, once owned by a high-ranking official, became home to Puyi, the last Qing Dynasty emperor, after his exile from the Forbidden City. From 1929 to 1931, it was here that Puyi, along with Queen Wanrong and Concubine Wenxiu, shared some of their happiest times.

Explore Puyi's life firsthand by visiting his study, bedroom, dining room, and other rooms within the house. This very place also saw the fascinating "Revolution of the Concubine," a truly groundbreaking moment in Chinese imperial history when Concubine Wenxiu, dissatisfied with Puyi's politics, sought a divorce. For more about Puyi's life, the film "The Last Emperor" offers a deeper look.

Then, head to Porcelain House (China House), anther landmark of Tianjin locate only 100m from Commander Zhang’s Mansion.The Porcelain House started as a small French-style building. Following renovation in 2007, it became the "Chinese Ancient Porcelain Museum." Valued at 9.8 billion yuan, the Porcelain House boasts a construction featuring over 700 million pieces of ancient porcelain, 13,000 ancient porcelain bottles, 4,000 ancient porcelain plates, 300 porcelain pillow cats, and 20 tons of crystal agate. It is an excellent destination for porcelain enthusiasts to appreciate Chinese porcelain from various historical periods, including the green porcelain of the Jin Dynasty, Tang tricolor pottery, Song Jun porcelain, Longquan porcelain, and Yuan-Ming blue and white porcelain.

Then, time to transfer to Ancient Culture Street (Jinmen Guli) for local life in Tianjin. Located on the west bank of the Haihe River, it is a commercial pedestrian street built in 1986 in the style of imitation Qing Dynasty architecture. It gathers many Tianjin time-honored shops and folk handicraft shops, such as Yangliuqing New Year paintings, clay figurine Zhang colored sculptures, etc., as well as mouthwatering Tianjin Food such as Goubuli steamed buns, Erduoyan fried cakes, Ersaozi pancakes, and Tianjin twisted dough sticks.

Free Time Ideas: (If Time Permits)
1.Tianjin Crosstalk (Self-pay): Experience the witty art form of Tianjin’s traditional crosstalk. There are crosstalk teahouses on both sides of the Ancient Culture Street, which is a unique way for Tianjin people to relax.
2.Tianjin Tianhou Palace (Self-pay): Learn about the culture of Mazu, the goddess of the sea, at Tianhou Palace. With a history of more than 700 years, it is one of the three largest Mazu temples in the world. First, there was the Tianhou Palace, and then there was Tianjin City (Cultural Ancient Street).On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the Tianhou Palace will hold the Tianjin Imperial Meeting, at which folk arts such as dragon lanterns, stilts, and land boats will be performed.

It is time to end your Tianjin Tour. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel (AOT) for your China Tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to Asia. Safe journey!

Extension Ideas:
1.You can extend your Tianjin Tour to other cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chongqing, Chengdu (Sichuan), etc. We can customize your itinerary.