I took the high-speed train to Tianjin on Tuesday for a
daytrip. A round-trip ticket only
costs around $16, and the train ride lasts about a half an hour one way. I let my roommates plan the itinerary
for the trip, and we saw some of the famous cites Tianjin offers. That took approximately 2 hours, and we
had the rest of the day free to explore Beijing’s twin city. We visited the Italian concession first
because of its proximity to the Tianjin train station. Warning: This area is not a “Little
Italy”. I went with high hopes of
pizza and spaghetti, and these hopes were quickly dashed. Most of the historical, European-style
buildings seemed dilapidated and unoccupied, but the architecture provides a
welcome change from the homogenous structures of Northeastern China.
We also checked out the city’s “traditional” antique market
nearby. This is little more than
an outdoor shopping mall designed to look old. It is thronged with Chinese tourists, making the whole thing
feel like Line 10 during rush hour.
Truthfully, it is filled with the same stuff that other souvenirs shops
in China sell. There isn’t much
special about the district, and it is overhyped. I recommend skipping it and exploring other parts of the
city.
However, if you go a few blocks over, you’ll find empty
streets. Here the city takes on
the aura of a ghost town. Tianjin
features a huge amount of unoccupied real estate. There are a few prominent examples of the phenomenon in
Beijing, but Tianjin has it in spades.
Large, recently completed shops and office blocks sit eerily empty. Parts of the city
make you feel like you’re on a Hollywood set. Also, watch out for Chinese tourists that will snap photos
of you. Below is a photo of a
Chinese tourist attempting to photograph me eating chicken wings. He didn’t ask, he just stuck the lens
in my face and clicked away. The
good news is that as a result, I am the third most recognizable foreigner in
western China (I joke).
 |
| Still oblivious |
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| At first I thought he wanted my chicken leg |
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| Now I am pissed |
Walking across the frozen river was a highlight of the
trip. Below are some photos. A small section of the river was
frozen, and you could rent sleds for the ice. I decided not to fulfill my dreams of becoming a member of
the Jamaican bobsled team because of the 40 Yuan price tag. We witnessed a few brave souls setting
off New Year’s fireworks on the ice.
The whole thing made for an interesting exercise in Chinese safety
regulations.
Tianjin made for a great “mini” vacation, and its proximity
to Beijing means you only need an afternoon to experience the city.
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