4 Days Tianjin to Beijing Tour - From China's Port City to Capital City

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.

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.

Optional: (If Time Permits)
Commander Zhang’s Mansion (Self-pay): This was Zhang Xueliang's residence from 1925 to 1932. It was during this period that Zhao Yidi (from a prestigious official family) met him, and the two accompanied each other throughout their lives. They met at a dance party, and the "Young Marshal's Mansion" was where their love story began.

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.
3.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.
4.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.

This morning, you will take a high speed train to Beijing from Tianjin. Then, spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and royal gardens.

After reaching Beijing, your guide will pick you up and head to Tian’anmen Square, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day.

Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. Listed as a world heritage site, Forbidden City has about 500 years’ history, and served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.

In this afternoon, drive to the “Museum of Royal Garden” - Summer Palace, which used to be the resort for royal families to flee summer heat. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

Recommended Optional Activity: You can try the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude this evening.

In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Great Wall boasts a history over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet.

Mutianyu Great Wall is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!

After the once-in-lifetime experience, head back to downtown Beijing and have the chance to take photos with the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). They were both designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and used for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. After that, transfer back to your hotel and have a good rest tonight.