Depart from Beijing | 2-Day High-Speed Rail Tour of Tianjin + Italian Style Town + Ancient Culture Street + Tianjin Eye + Five Great Avenues

Welcome to Tianjin, one of the largest and most internationally influential port cities in northern China! Our driver will meet you at the exit of Tianjin Railway Station and accompany you to start a wonderful journey in Tianjin. The best way to explore Tianjin: stroll slowly to admire its quaint and exquisite architecture, streets, and bridges; taste authentic local street food and snacks. After a short rest, head to visit the Shi Family Grand Courtyard. First built in the early Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875), it was the residence of the Shi Yuanshi family, the foremost of the "Eight Great Families of Tianjin." It is also one of the best-preserved and largest late Qing residential architectural complexes in China, known as the "First Residence of North China." Covering about 6,000 square meters, it is one of the largest private residences in northern China and the best place to appreciate Chinese brick carving, wood carving, stone carving, and the enclosed residential theater architecture, offering a glimpse into the ultimate luxurious lifestyle of wealthy Qing merchants. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi once visited here. In addition, the Shi Family Grand Courtyard is now the main hall of the Yangliuqing Museum, housing more than 130 treasures, with permanent exhibitions of New Year painting woodblocks and Tianjin brick carvings, well worth savoring. Many popular films and TV dramas were also shot here, such as "The Golden Family" starring Liu Yifei. Afterwards, head to Tianjin's cultural landmark, the Tianjin Museum (closed on Mondays). This is the largest and most richly collectioned comprehensive museum in Tianjin, known as a "three-dimensional textbook of Tianjin's general history," and an excellent place to learn about Tianjin's glorious history and splendid culture. Among them, the Western Zhou Taibao Ding (the only surviving piece of the "Seven Liangshan Vessels" among bronzes), the Qianlong falangcai jade pot spring vase (brightly colored, integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seals), and the Song Dynasty white jade puppy (a "scene-stealer" in the artifact world) are the museum's treasures, very worth checking in. After visiting the museum, you can leisurely stroll through the Italian Style Area and experience the most diverse exotic charm. The Italian Style Area is the only fully preserved Italian-style architectural complex in Asia, with 137 historical buildings in Mediterranean styles such as Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque, and is the best representative of the "Exhibition of Architecture from All Nations." You can stroll slowly around Marco Polo Square, photograph the Goddess of Peace statue, the Gothic bell tower, and the flying lion wishing pool, and feel the pure Italian charm; you can also walk along the seven horizontal and three vertical stone-paved roads, check in at exotic buildings such as consulates and churches, and every casual shot is a great photo; you can also visit celebrity former residences such as Liang Qichao's Ice-Drinking Room (at your own expense, ticket 10 yuan) and Cao Yu's Former Residence (free, reservation required), and experience the living scenes of modern Chinese celebrities up close; or check in at the former Italian barracks and learn about the history of the concession. In addition, in the Italian Style Area you can also taste different European flavors and authentic local cuisine. Then, continue to the Ancient Culture Street, known as the "Hometown of Tianjin." This is one of Tianjin's famous cultural landmarks and also one of Tianjin's city cards. Here, you can experience authentic Tianjin life, admire Ming and Qing style historical buildings such as the Temple of the Empress of Heaven and Tongqingli, taste the "Three Wonders of Tianjin" foods: Goubuli steamed buns, Shibajie fried dough twists, and Erduoyan fried cakes, and watch intangible cultural heritage skills such as Yangliuqing New Year paintings and Clay Figure Zhang painted sculptures. Finally, visit Tianjin's landmark building, the Tianjin Eye (exterior view). This is the world's only Ferris wheel integrated with a bridge, built on the Yongle Bridge over the Haihe River, with a diameter of about 110 meters and a height of about 120 meters (equivalent to a 40-story building), with a very special design. Free time recommendations 1. Tianjin Crosstalk (at your own expense): Experience the humorous art of traditional Tianjin crosstalk. Crosstalk teahouses are distributed along both sides of the Ancient Culture Street, and it is a unique leisure way for Tianjin people. 2. Tianjin Temple of the Empress of Heaven (at your own expense): Feel the strong Mazu culture. The Temple of the Empress of Heaven was built in 1326 (Yuan Dynasty) and has a history of 700 years. There is a saying that "first there was the Temple of the Empress of Heaven, then there was Tianjin Wei." On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the temple holds the "Imperial Meeting," with folk art performances such as Dharma drums and lion dances. 3. Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel (at your own expense): Enjoy the magnificent city views of Tianjin, especially the night view, which is even more charming. In peak season, riding the Ferris wheel requires booking 3 days in advance; in off-season, 1 day in advance. 4. Haihe River Night Cruise (at your own expense): Enjoy a relaxed and pleasant boat trip. You can sail on the Haihe River and immersively appreciate the intoxicating city skyline, with the best views at the Liberation Bridge and Tianjin Tower light show. It is recommended to book 7 days in advance. The opening period is from mid-March to early December. Tips 1. Tianjin actually has similarities with Shanghai: its architecture is diverse and integrates elements from many countries. The Five Great Avenues, known as the "Exhibition of Architecture from All Nations," is comparable to Shanghai's Bund. As a neighbor of Beijing, Tianjin is an affordable vacation destination near Beijing and a gateway city to northern China. 2. Tianjin is a holy land for foodies and culture lovers: the three wonders of Goubuli steamed buns, Shibajie fried dough twists, and Erduoyan fried cakes are must-try foods. It is also famous for the three intangible cultural heritage treasures: Yangliuqing New Year paintings, Clay Figure Zhang, and Tianjin crosstalk. 3. Tianjin shore excursions departing from Tianjin Port: Tianjin was built in 1404 (Ming Dynasty) and is an important water transport hub. Since opening as a port in 1860, Tianjin has become a trade hub in northern China. Please note: international cruise passengers can enjoy the 240-hour China transit visa-free policy and easily tour Tianjin (valid until December 17, 2025; please contact us for confirmation). 4. The Ming emperor Zhu Di gave Tianjin its name in 1404: "Tianjin" means "the ford where the Son of Heaven passed," commemorating the key action of crossing the river southward from the Sancha River mouth during the "Jingnan Campaign." Suggested ways to arrive 1. Tianjin International Cruise Home Port: Tianjin International Cruise Home Port is about 70 kilometers from downtown Tianjin. This port is an important international cruise port in northern China. If you need Tianjin cruise port pickup and drop-off service, please contact our customer service. 2. Airplane: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) is about 13 kilometers from downtown Tianjin and has many direct domestic routes, such as Shanghai (about 2 hours), Xi'an (about 2 hours), Chongqing (about 2 hours 50 minutes), Chengdu (about 3 hours 10 minutes), Guangzhou (about 3 hours 10 minutes), etc. Before traveling, it is recommended to check the flight schedule in advance. 3. High-speed rail: Tianjin Station and Tianjin South Station have many high-speed rail services between Tianjin and major domestic cities, such as Beijing (about 30 minutes), Shanghai (about 5.5 hours), Xi'an (about 6.5 hours), etc. If you need to book tickets, please contact our customer service.

After breakfast, start by exploring the Five Great Avenues, one of Tianjin's most representative historical and cultural districts. Composed of 22 streets including Machang Road, Munan Road, Dali Road, Changde Road, and Chongqing Road, it preserves over 2,000 garden villas whose architecture blends British, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and other styles, making it truly unique and earning it the reputation of a "World Architecture Exposition." Recommended classic walking route through the Five Great Avenues: Chongqing Road (where Minyuan Square is located, a photo spot for the Five Great Avenues landmark, and the nearby Little White House - Tianjin Concert Hall is also worth a visit) → Prince Qing's Mansion (at your own expense, late Qing architecture) → Geda Lou (a building inlaid with porcelain shards) → Munan Road Celebrity Former Residences (Spanish style - Former Residence of Xu Shizhang, English spires - Former Residence of Li Shufu, etc.) → Munan Park (most famous for its magnolia blossoms in spring) → Xiannong Compound (red-brick English-style terraced villas). In addition, you can also take a horse-drawn carriage (at your own expense) at Minyuan Square to tour the Five Great Avenues, immersing yourself in the diverse architecture blending East and West and learning the fascinating stories behind the buildings. Afterward, head to visit Jingyuan, one of the former residences in Tianjin of Puyi, China's last emperor, known as the "Last Emperor's Tianjin Palace." Its architecture blends Spanish arcades with Japanese garden elements, making it very special. You can visit in turn the bedroom of Wenxiu, the meeting room (where Puyi conducted his restoration activities), Puyi's study, and Wanrong's music room (where her piano still remains), learning about Puyi's life and trajectory as well as that complex period of history. In addition, China's first case of an imperial consort's divorce also took place here. Then, head to Tianjin's landmark building - the Porcelain House. This is one of China's most controversial architectural art wonders, a French-style villa decorated with over 700 million ancient porcelain shards (spanning the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties), 13,000 ancient porcelain vases, over 4,000 ancient porcelain bowls, and more than 20 tons of crystal and agate decorations. Known as the "China Ancient Porcelain Museum," it is the perfect place to appreciate porcelain from various historical periods of China. Free time recommendations: (explore if time permits) 1. Former Residence of Zhang Xueliang / Young Marshal's Mansion (at your own expense): This was Zhang Xueliang's residence from 1925 to 1931 and the home of Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi. Here you can learn about Zhang Xueliang's military and political career and his anecdotes with Miss Zhao Si. 2. Nanshi Food Street: Built in 1984, this is a landmark antique-style architectural complex in Tianjin, integrating dining, shopping, and cultural experiences. Here you can enjoy authentic Tianjin delicacies such as Goubuli Baozi, Erduoyan Fried Cake, Shibajie Fried Dough Twists, and Jianbing Guozi. At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 2-day Tianjin tour comes to an end. Our driver will escort you to Tianjin Railway Station, where you can return to Beijing. If you would like to extend your Tianjin trip from Beijing to other popular Chinese tourist cities such as Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, or Guilin, we can also customize an itinerary for you.