The former capital of Hebei Province, the municipality of Tianjin is China’s fourth largest city and a major seaport. The city’s appeal lies in its Western Concession architecture, a legacy of its past as a foreign trading post since 1858. The former powers, led by Britain and France, and followed by Japan, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy, and Russia, built schools, banks, and churches.

In the north of city, the Ancient Culture Street is a recreation of an ancient Chinese street. The Tianhou Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, is on the street’s west side. To the southwest, close to the Old Chinese Town, the Confucius Temple was damaged during the Cultural Revolution, and restored in 1993. About a mile northeast across the River Hai is the gaunt Wang Hai Lou Cathedral (Wang Hail Lou Jiao Tang). Outside, a plaque in Chinese relates the church’s turbulent history. The 1976 Tang Shan earthquake damaged it for the third time, and it was repaired in 1983. North of the cathedral, the Qing-era Dabei Monastery is reached via a colorful market selling incense sticks and Buddhist talismans. People pay their respects to Milefo (the Laughing Buddha) at the entrance and to Guanyin in her own hall. To the west is the Chinese-style mosque Qingzhen Si. This is not open to the public, but suitably dressed visitors may ask to be admitted. Some distance to the southeast, the Tianjin Fine Art Museum is in the heart of city. Exhibits include prints, silk paintings, and artifacts. The excellent Antique Market on Shenyang Dao is a riveting sprawl of collectibles. To the south, at the end of Binjiang Dao, are the three green domes of the French-built Xi Kai Cathedral (Xi Kai Jiao Tang).