ASIA-PACIFIC journalists attending an exchange program for international journalists in China successfully concluded their China Close Up Tour to Tianjin City.

The China Close UP tour of Tianjin from Wednesday 18 June to Friday 20 June was hosted by the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in collaboration with the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC).

Tianjin City is where old-world charm meets cutting-edge innovation, providing visitors with a memorable experience.

The first day of the tour covered the Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, “Tianjin Port Impression” Experience Hall, Clay Figurine Zhang’s Gallery, Darentang Healthy Life Hall, Guandong Guild Hall and Opera, Lenovo Smart Innovation Service Industrial Park, Tianshifang Wharf, Haihe River Upgrading and Renovation Project.

The second day covered the Smart Zero-Carbon Terminal of Tianjin Port, Binhai New Area and China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., (COOEC) Ltd.’s Tianjin Intelligent Manufacturing Base.

The third day covered Yangliuqing Ancient Town, Shi Family Court Yard, Yihetang Martial Arts Center, Hao Guifen Paper-Cutting Gallery and Yuchenghao New Year’s Painting Workshop, Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College and Luban Workshop Construction – Experience Museum and Precision Mold and Intelligent Manufacturing Industry-Education Integration Base.

Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street

The surroundings of the street mark the birthplace of the Tianjin and represents the development of the city’s old quarter. It was one of the earliest economic, cultural and commercial centers in the city, preserving legacies from the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Known as the “Origin of Tianjin”, it proudly serves as the city’s name card.

The ancient cultural street is home to numerous cultural landmarks and historical buildings. In recent years, through a series of folk performances, exhibitions and other activities, it has become a vibrant space blending tangible and intangible cultural heritage, diversely showcasing the traditional value and distinctive culture of the area.

Notable elements such as the Clay Figurine Zhang’s painted clay figurines and Darentang, alongside a rich collection of Tianjin’s unique time-honored brands are concentrated in this area, central businesses make up 60 per cent of the space.

Traditional culture continues to evolve and innovate, allowing visitors to experience the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage.

“Tianjin Port Impression” Experience Hall

This features a 5D cinema and interactive simulations and vividly narrates Tianjin’s transformation from a canal transport hub to a modern seaport, establishing itself as a new cultural landmark and an exciting destination for cultural consumption.

Guangdong Guild Hall (Tianjin Opera Museum)

Built in 1907 in the Qing Dynasty, the hall blends Northern and Lingnan architectural styles. It is home to the largest and best-preserved classical opera house in China.

The Tianjin Museum, located within the Guiled House, is the first thematic museum in China dedicated to opera.

As an important heritage site under state protection, the hall not only showcases stunning architectural artistry, but also bears witness to the vicissitudes of Tianjin’s opera culture.

In recent years, the hall embraced a groundbreaking “museum +” model, staging immersive and interactive dramas such as the performance series of The Great River Flows East and the Step into History: Peking Opera. By revitalizing historical scenes and offering interactive experiences, the museum seamlessly integrates static exhibits with dynamic performances.

This innovative approach explores new models of living inheritance, thereby creating high-quality cultural tourism experiences and establishing the hall as a unique cultural landmark in Tianjin.

Tianjin’s AI-Driven New Industrialization

Tianjin has positioned artificial intelligence at the heart of its strategy to advance high-quality manufacturing, accelerating the comprehensive integration of AI across Research and Development (R&D), design, production and supply chain management.

This effort is aimed at empowering the new industrialization. To date, the city has cultivated 467 smart factories, nine of which have been recognized as part of the first group of national excellence-level smart factories, including the Lenovo (Tianjin) Smart Innovation Service Industrial Park.

Haihe River Enhancement and Transformation Project

The Haihe River, which is the “mother river” of Tianjin, is the largest river system in North China and one of China’s seven major river systems. Spanning 73 kilometers through Tianjin, the river has played a vital role in shaping the city’s modern civilization, bridging its past, present, and future.

This route included a scenic boat tour along the river’s cultural scenic line, which highlights the city’s efforts to establish the IP of “Night of Haihe”, and create an image of “Alluring Water City of Tianjin” by leveraging its water resources.

The Haihe River Cultural Scenic Line is Tianjin’s signature landscape corridor, tracing the river’s banks with stunning views and cultural landmarks.

Here visitors are bound to enjoy the harmonious contrast between Tianjin’s historic architecture and modern skyline as well as the unique fusion of Chinese and western architectural styles. Along the river banks stand distinctive clusters of western-style buildings, former residences of historical figures and glittering skyscrapers.

A boat cruise offers views of key attractions such as the Tientsin Eye – the world’s first Ferris Wheel integrated into a bridge – and several iconic bridges, including Jiefang Bridge and Yongle Bridge, each with its own architectural significance.

COOEC Tianjin Intelligent Manufacturing Base