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meat bunsTianjin - a develloping city
"Two weeks in Tianjin"
I spend two weeks in Tianjin studying in Nankai University. The days went in studying but fortunately I could spent some time also exploring the city. Althought I must say that I did that quite little. Nope, I did not do hardly any tourist things... In the Nankai University area lives around 20.000 people and it is a city within a city. In Tianjin there are 10 million inhabitants and it is one of the biggest cities in China, I've read from somewhere.
Tianjin was easily reached from Beijing by train, bullet train or by taxi. The bullet train operates between Tianjin and Beijing airport and is very quick and affordable. Tianjin is a harbour city but actually we rode one hour by bus in order to get to the sea.
"Food"
Mainly I ate from the street sellers, which I haven't seen (at least not so many) in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or in Hong Kong. BUT I'm sure that they do exist in these cities as well but at least in Tianjin I've spotted them and enjoyed the food. It is very affordable to eat where the locals eat. Not maybe the safest choice or nicest athmosphere but it was an experience and inexpensive.
"Old, traditional and modern side by side"
The photo here is taken from TEDA area. Technological Development Area (TEDA)is Northern China's state-sponsored development area. It is free tradezone and a modern one. I visited there twice, first had a company visit and the second time went for a closer look. Also here are pretty many shopping malls. There is a light-train from Tianjin to TEDA area, the journey takes around 40mins. TEDA area is more modern one than city of Tianjin, but hey, what would I know? I only saw Tianjin near the Nankai University and few touristic spots...
In the city of Tianjin one could see parts of "old China" like once I saw chickens running on a walking pavement, or people putting fire on walking pavement and burning paper cars, paper (toy) money to be sent to the close ones, who has died and is now in heaven.
Tianjin is interesting combination of old and new. And yes, it is definately cheaper than f ex in Beijing.
