About Tianjin

Tianjin is the largest coastal city in Northern China with a booming population of 15 million. It is one of the four direct-controlled municipalities in China and is thus under direct administration of the central government. With Bohai Sea to its east, Yan mountains to its north, and Hebei province surrounding it, Tianjin lies on the North China Plain. It is 120 km southeast of Beijing, 25 minutes by bullet train.

Built in 1404, Tianjin was a city rich in history and culture. During the Qing dynasty, Tianjin was opened up as a treaty port and many of the European-style buildings and mansions constructed during that era are well-preserved today. It is also one of the educational centers in China and is the home of the two oldest and well-known universities in China: Nankai University and Tianjin University. In recent years, Tianjin has taken great stride to modernize the city, commerce and industries. It is re-emerging as one of the dynamic and bustling metropolitan cities in China.

 

Traveling to Tianjin

Visas

In most cases, a visa should be obtained from a Chinese embassy or consulate before arriving anywhere in mainland China. Many travel agencies will assist you with the application and some can submit it on your behalf. Plan on applying for a visa at least a month before your trip; if needed, there are services available to expedite the process and shorten the wait time. For further details, please refer to the "Visa" page on this conference website.

By Air

Tianjin Binhai International Airport is located in Dongli District, which is only 15 km (9 miles) to the east of the urban area. It has two terminals (T1 and T2), but only T2 is used for passenger transportation. Currently, there are 18 domestic air routes and 7 international air routes connecting it with over 50 destinations home and abroad, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur.

Beijing Capital International Airport is 120 km (75 miles) from Tianjin. Travelers can also elect to fly into Beijing and then take a shuttle service to Tianjin.

By Train

Tianjin Railway Station is the principal railway station in Tianjin and serves as the terminus for high-speed trains to the city, including the Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway. The bullet train between Beijing and Tianjin takes about 33 minutes and a one-way ticket is about ¥55 for Economy, ¥66 for Business, and ¥94 for VIP.

Tianjin South Railway Station handles some of the high-speed rail services to Shanghai. It also serves as an intermediate station for bullet trains between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao. The recently renovated Tianjin West Station also handles the high-speed rail services to Shanghai.

Intra-city Transportation

Taxis in Tianjin are abundant. The minimum cost for 3 kilometers is ¥8 (plus ¥1 mandatory fuel surcharge), and ¥1.7 per kilometer thereafter.

At present, there are five metro lines in operation in the city, Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 6 and Line 9.

 

References and Recommended Reading

Travel & Tourist Information

http://wikitravel.org/en/Tianjin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin

Tianjin Binhai International Airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin_Binhai_International_Airport

Tianjin Railway Station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin_Railway_Station