About Tianjin
Tianjin is China's 4th largest city. It is approximately 120 km southeast of Beijing, and is a co-host of the 2008 Olympic Games, (there will be a few football matches held in the city). In the entire municipality, there are over 10 million people, spread out over nearly 12,000 square kilometers. The largest suburb is Tanggu, about 40 minutes west of the main city. The city itself has a long history, stretching back over 600 years. It was one of the first cities where Europeans established a presence in the 19th century, and the Western influnce in the architecture can still be detected in some of the main districts.
Tianjin, like many Chinese cities, is in the process of a rapid development, with an economy that's been growing in the double digit marks for the last several years. It's set to take off even more in the next few: the government has decided to make the city the economic hub of northeast China, particular the area known as the Binhai New Area.
In terms of Western amenities, Tianjin is fairly well off compared to most Chinese cities. Finding everyday things such as deodorant, shaving supplies, and Western groceries is relatively easy, if you know where to go. Tianjin also has a significant amount of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Cultural venues are still few and far between, especially for a city of this size, but Tianjin does have a handful of art galleries, as well as a small but growing independent music scene. For more information about Tianjin and things to do here, it is recommended that you check out http://www.TianjinExpats.com .
