Tianjin Shopping

Tianjin is a famous commercial center with traditional trade areas and modern shopping centers. With the development of the Tianjin economy and flourishing commerce, a number of new commercial areas and big markets have appeared. Major commercial areas in Tianjin are Binjiang Road, Heping Road, Xiaobailou (Little White Building), Xinanjiao, Zhongshan Road, Tonglou, and Nanlou.

The Binjiang and Heping roads intersect to the west of the Haihe River, and comprise the most prosperous commercial area of Tianjin, where several large department stores are located. The most famous section of Binjiang Road is between Shandong Road and Nanjing Road. This area is a market of small commodities and attracts numerous people day and night. When the evening comes, local-flavored snacks are offered along the street under colorful lights. This has become a unique Tianjin scene.

Tianjin is rich in special products, some of which are tourist favorites, such as Yangliuqing New Year Pictures, colored clay figurines of Master Zhang, Wei Kites, and Tianjin Carpets. One can also find them at the Yilingge and Wenyuange, which are on Liaoning Road and Heping Road in Heping District or Ningcuixuan in the Yangliuqing New Year Pictures Society.

Yangliuqing New Year Pictures

Yangliuqing New Year Pictures originated in the Yangliuqing Town during the early 17th century. Adopting the method of integrating block printing and hand-colored decoration, and characterized by varied themes, the brightness, vivacity, happiness, auspiciousness and fascination, make these New Year pictures a popular ornament in Chinese homes.

Clay Figurines of Master Zhang

Clay Figurines of one of Tianjin's famous folk crafts is "Clay Figurine Zhang", named for the renowned folk clay sculpture artist Zhang Mingshan who lived in the port-city in the Qing Dynasty, 180 years ago. Zhang Mingshan was born to a poor family. As a child, he learned from his father how to make clay figurines to earn some money. The young man carefully observed people from all walks of life at the market fairs and in acting roles in local operas, and soon became known for his remarkably vivid and expressive clay figurines. His works included heroes and villains from Chinese folk stories and novels as well as homely scenes of everyday life.
Much of the appeal of Clay Figurine Zhang these days lies in the nostalgic memories they evoke of a simpler time, with scenes of old ladies leaning on their walking sticks to chat, children playing ball, a young girl selling haws in winter, a grandmother hugging a new grandchild.

   

Wei Kites

Wei Yuantai is the representative of Tianjin Kites, affectionately called "Wei Kites."The characteristics of Tianjin kites lie in the techniques of the framework and fastening as well as its colors and designs based upon the New Year's wood block pictures and traditional Chinese painting. Based on traditional sculpture, it strives to be unique and to always find something new and fresh in design. The kites come out with various sizes and patterns. The biggest ones are more than 3 meters long and the smallest are only a few centimeters long. Some of the kites are foldable and thus become one of the most favorite souvenirs in the packs of foreign visitors.

Tianjin Carpet

Tianjin Carpet has its own unique skill technique and style. vThe carpet crafters in Tianjin use a unique method where the carpet woven out is strong but pliable in texture, whippy, firm and durable. vIn addition, there are numerous unique patterns, and created in various art styles. vA famous Tianjin tapestry of the Temple of Heaven is hanging at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ancient Cultural Street

Perhaps one of Tianjin's most famous landmarks, Ancient Cultural Street was built originally in 1993 as a place for people to buy ancient-looking artifacts, souvenirs, and knickknacks. It is located right on the Hai River, and any taxi driver who can't find it for you is an imbecile or a cheat. Lately, the shopping area has undergone several revisions and expansions, and any semblance to "ancient" that the street itself may have once had is now vanishing completely. This is a must-see, though, if you need to buy something to bring back home.

Gulou

Kind of a cheaper version of Ancient Cultural Street, which is actually located pretty close nearby, Gulou also features old-looking stuff like paintings, swords, and all that jazz. The whole complex is centered around a bell tower, built early in the 1900's. If you can't find what you want here, just go to Ancient Culture Street, and vice versa.

Cybermart

Cybermart is a gigantic wholesale computer hardware and software store offering very reasonable prices but with a little room for bargaining at many of the shops. This three-level mega-mart has hundreds of shops peddling computers and computer accessories hardware, software, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc. The selection is enormous and you are unlikely to find a lower price.

Address: Anshan West Road (near intersection with Baidi Road), Tianjin

Gome

There are probably about a dozen or two of these Gome electronic chains situated throughout Tianjin. They offer everything from TV's to computers to MP3 players to DVD players. The two locations about a block away from Cybermart on Anshan Xi Dao and in Tanggu about a block and a half from the Yanghuo Shichang light rail station. Prices are generally better than Carrefour and Home World, but a bit worse than Cybermart, at least on computers and MP3 players. If looking for electronic goods, Gome is worth checking out.

Bingjiang Dao: Tianjin's Walking Street

Tianjin's Walking Street offers hundreds of retail stores assembled on one long walking street, prices in every range. This is the place to go to shop in Tianjin. It is generally a pleasant experience, cleanly and without the hassle of traffic. There are stores here that sell nearly every kind of clothing, formal and informal, shoes, jewelry, watches, and accessories.

This street has it all offering large malls, department stores, discount shops, wholesale stores, specialty stores, street vendors, and so on. There are also many food options, including Pizza Hut, the omnipresent McDonalds and KFC, yangrou and other chuanr (skewered food), etc. There is a large movie theatre that always plays at least one Western movie. If you enter one of the crowded alleyways, you will find a large clothing market with the open shops and bargaining that characterizes most Chinese shopping experiences. These alleys are a great place to shop if you are on a budget.

Liberation Shopping Street

Jiefang Lu Shangye jie of Liberation Shopping Street is kind of Tanggu's version of Binjiang Dao. Located near the Hai River Seaside park, this is a big walking street complete with McDonalds, KFCs, big shopping centers, and statues of naked babies standing on crabs. There's even a Subway Restaurant just off of the east end of the street.

The Foreign Goods Market

The Foreign Goods Market is one place virtually everyone visits when they come to Tanggu, a suburb of Tianjin. About a block or so southwest of the light rail station of the same name, this place has more fake Prada bags and perfume than you can shake a stick at. It's a big market selling everything from watches to MP3 players to animals on a stick. Somewhere on the big walking street there's a place that sells used cell phones too.

Shenyang Dao Antique Market
Being the biggest antique market in China, Shenyang Dao Antique Market is filled with all kinds of shops selling porcelains, paintings, gold, silver, copper, jade articles, and so on.

Gu Wenhua Jie
A famous shopping street
Address: Gu Wenhua Street station, Tianjin

Friendship Department Store
Address:No. 21 Youyi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin

Quanye Chang
Address:The crossroad of Binjiang Dao and Heping Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Parkson Shopping Center
Address:No. 162 Heping Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Jinhui Shopping Square
Address:No. 189 Nanjing Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Isetan Shopping Mall
Address:No. 209 Nanjing Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Home World
Address: Youyi Road, Tianjin

Metro
Address: No. 75 Xiqing Dao, Hongqiao District, Tianjin

Far Eastern Department Store
Address: No. 168 Dongma Road, Tianjin
Tel: (8622) 2727-1688

Wal-Mart
Heping Road Branch:No. 66, Fu'an Dajie, Heping District, Tianjin
Xinkai Road Branch:The crossroad of Huachang Dajie and Xinkai Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Carrefour
Nankai Branch:No. 168 Baidi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin
Longcheng Branch: 1/F Xin'an Plaza, No. 138 Dongma Road, Nankai District, Tianjin
Hedong Branch:No. 160-16 Zhangguizhuang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin
Hebei Branch:No. 28 - 18, crossing of Hongxing Road and Zhenli Street, Hebei District, Tianjin
Haiguang Temple Branch:No. 302, Nanjing Road, Nankai District, Tianjin

Good Luck Supermarket
Address 1: Weijin South Road, Tianjin
Address 2: Qixiang Tai Road (near TV Tower), Tianjin

Heping Supermarket
Address: Shuishang East Road, Nankai District, Tianjin

NOTE: Although this information is correct at the time of our web publication, it is still advised that you call the phone number and confirm the address before going to the venue because some venues may have changed their telephone numbers or address locations.

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