2 Days Private Tianjin Tours

Tianjin welcomes you to experience its chill lifestyle, distinctive culinary scene, and the eclectic architectural landscape. In the morning, your private guide and driver will pick you up from Tianjin’s airport, train station, cruise port, or the hotel you booked on your own in downtown Tianjin. Once you meet, hop in our private vehicle to officially begin your private Tianjin tours. 

● For Your Information:
Adjacent to Beijing, Tianjin is a perfect weekend destination. The high-speed train connects the two cities with over 100 daily departures mainly from 6:00 to 22:00, getting you there in just 30 to 60 minutes. If you are planning a Tianjin tour from Beijing, please note that the train journey and ticketing are managed by yourself, but our team of travel consultants is always on hand to provide support and assistance for your tour.

The first stop will be the landmark Tianjin Eye, a giant Ferris wheel built in conjunction with a bridge over the Haihe River, the lifeline of this city. Intriguingly, however, as a romantic icon, the wheel is associated with heartbreak in a popular local belief because it has witnessed many breakups – it’s superstitious anyway, please don’t take it seriously! Take your time to stroll around here to capture the charming views.
► Recommended Photo Spots: a. for the grandeur of the sky wheel itself, stand directly beneath it on the bridge and take a low-angle shot; b. the shot obtained from either side of the bridge will present the wheel and the beautiful Haihe River in perfect harmony; c. stroll to the walkway along the riverside and frame you, the wheel, the Haihe River, as well as the buildings on the opposite together to get an atmospheric panoramic picture. 

Next, continue our journey to Yangliuqing Town for Shi’s Compound, also known as the Yangliuqing Museum, once home to one of the wealthiest families in the mid-19th to the early 20th century. After entry, find awe before the three floral-pendant gates on the central axis. Their wooden lintels are carved with different flower stages, implying the owner’s beautiful wish for different stages of life in his family. Step into the living quarters on the east side to feast on delicate carvings in wood, brick, and clay, as well as New Year-themed woodblock prints in a local style, all of which display top-notch artistry and craftsmanship. On the west side used for entertaining honored guests, admire more exquisite halls, opera stages, and a pond-embellished garden. Besides, for the owner of the mansion, who brought the family to their heyday, some say he treated his people well although as a landlord, but others say he was as oppressive as any other power holders. Have your own opinion of him with your guide’s commentaries.

Afterward, let’s move to the Tianjin Museum, a large and comprehensive museum that allows you to appreciate both ancient Chinese art and the history of Tianjin’s development. Nearly 200,000 items, covering various categories such as bronzeware, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, jade, and seals, will keep you constantly amazed and enlightened. Especially marvel at the star porcelain vase featuring enamel-colored peonies and pheasants, with its elegant, smooth shape and perfect proportion, showcasing the pinnacle craftsmanship of the imperial kilns in the 18th century.

We’ll round off today’s adventure with a stroll through the bustling Ancient Culture Street, the birthplace of Tianjin. Initially, there was only the Tianhou Palace built 700 years ago to worship the goddess of sea. As numerous fishermen came to pray to her, boats loaded with merchandise gathered, trading happened, and people began to settle down. With your guide, you won’t miss Tianjin’s oldest wooden pavilion and a lane packed with residential buildings that integrate Chinese and Western architectural styles. Also, browse through various Chinese intangible cultural heritage handicrafts like clay figurines, paper cutting, and New Year paintings in time-honored studios. Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Recommended Nighttime Activities:
The night view of the Haihe River is one you should not miss in Tianjin, so we’ve carefully selected the hotel nearby for you tonight. If you like, go out for a leisurely walk on your own when the city is shrouded in darkness. Admire the six steel or concrete bridges of different styles drawn in smooth lines by colorful lights, tick off the large century clock with its twelve zodiac metal reliefs embedded in the dial, and watch a fantastic light show on the opposite Jinwan Square, which features elements such as the grand scene of the thousand-year-old Silk Road and the China-Europe Railway Express.

Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Tianjin Railway Station (4 stars)

After breakfast at your hotel, accompanied by your guide and driver, set out to impress your morning first with a marvel at the Porcelain House. Once a French villa, it later became an experimental subject of an antique collector, who purchased it and spent 6 years turning it into a visually striking artwork covered with porcelain all over. What’s to amaze you more, the whole or scraps of porcelain embedded into the walls, roofs, and columns are from different dynasties, and over 700 million pieces were used! 

Go on to visit Five Great Avenues, once one of the British concessions in China, to witness the colonial-era architectural heritage complex. Like the famous former concession, the Bund in Shanghai, it recorded a slice of modern history and gives you a glimpse of what Tianjin was like at the beginning of the 19th century. Take your time to stroll past countless buildings in Gothic, Baroque, and Byzantine styles, while hearing intriguing histories from your guide to enjoy a journey back in time.

After that, let’s make our way to Jingyuan Garden, aka the Garden of Serenity, a typical private courtyard mansion from the colonial era. Originally owned by a high-ranking government official, it later became the abode for 2 years since 1929 for China’s last feudal emperor, Puyi, and his two wives after he was exiled from the capital Beijing. First called Qianyuan, Puyi renamed the garden Jingyuan, supposedly to indicate that he was here waiting in serenity for the chance to plot the rebuilding of the empire and resume his reign as emperor. Also intriguingly, one of his wives, disapproving of his political attitude, had initiated a divorce from him right here – the first concubine in China’s imperial history ever to do so. Time seems to be warped here – trees and bushes in the yard are well pruned, and the retro furniture inside the iconic two-story house, which is elegant in a mix of Spanish and Japanese styles, is well arranged and free of dust, as if Puyi is going to show up next minute. 

Your 2 days private tour to Tianjin now reaches its end, and your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel or a place you designate in downtown Tianjin, or Tianjin’s airport, train station, or cruise port, for your onward journey. Thank you for travelling with us! If you wish to extend your trip to the neighboring Beijing to visit more attractions, such as the Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall, feel free to contact us to customize a travel plan to your interests.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast