Travel Notes #海河
Tianjin: A Riverside City of Concessions and International Architecture
One of China's four municipalities, Tianjin sits where the Hai River meets the sea on the North China Plain. Its former foreign concessions left whole districts of international architecture; the villas of the Five Avenues, the Italian-style quarter, the Ancient Culture Street and the riverside Ferris wheel make a city that is both East and West, unhurried and lived-in.
Tianjin Eye: The Ferris Wheel Built on a Bridge
The Tianjin Eye, formally the Yongle Bridge Ferris Wheel, stands at the Three Confluences of the Hai River and is the only ferris wheel in the world built on a bridge. Its 110-metre wheel carries 48 transparent cabins; one turn takes about 28 minutes and the top offers a 360-degree view of the city and river.
Tianjin Jin Tower: The 336m Landmark by the Hai River and Jinwan Plaza
The Tianjin Jin Tower, or Tianjin IFC, rises 336.9 metres over 75 floors and is the city's tallest building, designed by SOM and completed in 2011. Its base, Jinwan Plaza, opens to the Hai River and is a fine spot to view Tianjin Station and the Liberation Bridge by night.