Tianjin

When we speak of Tianjin, few Japanese people have heard of the city, although Tianjin roasted chestnuts and Tianjin rice bowls are well known. (As a matter of fact, in China, a steamed meat bun called Goubuli, which is said to have been praised by Xi Taihou, is more famous than Tianjin roasted chestnuts. And I don't know where a Tianjin rice bowl comes from, but in Tianjin, there is no food called a Tianjin rice bowl.) I wonder whether it is known that Tianjin is one of the directly controlled cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, and is experiencing very rapid development with a high growth rate, attracting a number of global enterprises.

I feel some incongruity in writing this. I think this is because Tianjin retains its old pleasant image that we witnessed about twenty years ago when China first embarked on reform and liberalization, rather than the image of a city focused on achieving rapid development as other big cities have.

I often hear people who have visited Tianjin remark that the city has not changed much and is slow to develop compared to other major cities. They get this impression when they see the airport and urban landscape. Certainly Tianjin is a little different from Beijing and Shanghai, which are forested with high-rise buildings that represent modernization. If we think of Beijing and Shanghai cities dressing in expensive clothes, Tianjin is a city that dresses casually. Many of the city's inhabitants are not particularly polite or friendly. Aging buildings and houses that were constructed during the period of the foreigners' concession are still in use. There are many historic buildings, with a plate showing the origin of the building hung inconspicuously. The old busy downtown district is crammed with all manner of shops and stores. There are many who still use bicycles to commute. At an intersection during rush hour, a number of policemen are busy controlling the traffic, even though there are traffic lights. The taxi drivers grumble that the police officers are doing more to hinder the traffic than help it. In the early morning, some aged people can be seen enjoying a swim in the Haihe River, a Tianjin landmark that runs slowly through the city, indifferent to the muddy water. They enjoy swimming even on cold winter days. We can see many people enjoying catching fish, as well. There are people living on a boat, catching small crustaceans and river shrimps. On the riverbank, people gather holding birdcages so the birds can compete in singing in their beautiful voices. Every person goes about their life in a city landscape that is free and relaxing.

We are witness to the fact that the development of Tianjin has accelerated since the beginning of this year, with many projects underway. These projects include the building of a railway line that runs from the city center to the economic technology development area facing Bohai Bay, the large-scale expansion of the subway network in the city and the general development project on either side of the Haihe River that is designed to facilitate the development of tertiary industry. Noisy construction work is conducted until late at night all over the city. The landscape of this city may change completely in a few years. However, I believe that Tianjin, a big city that dresses casually, will maintain its simple, casual atmosphere, due in part to the attitude of the people.I often hear people who have visited Tianjin remark that the city has not changed much and is slow to develop compared to other major cities. They get this impression when they see the airport and urban landscape. Certainly Tianjin is a little different from Beijing and Shanghai, which are forested with high-rise buildings that represent modernization. If we think of Beijing and Shanghai cities dressing in expensive clothes, Tianjin is a city that dresses casually. Many of the city's inhabitants are not particularly polite or friendly. Aging buildings and houses that were constructed during the period of the foreigners' concession are still in use. There are many historic buildings, with a plate showing the origin of the building hung inconspicuously. The old busy downtown district is crammed with all manner of shops and stores. There are many who still use bicycles to commute. At an intersection during rush hour, a number of policemen are busy controlling the traffic, even though there are traffic lights. The taxi drivers grumble that the police officers are doing more to hinder the traffic than help it. In the early morning, some aged people can be seen enjoying a swim in the Haihe River, a Tianjin landmark that runs slowly through the city, indifferent to the muddy water. They enjoy swimming even on cold winter days. We can see many people enjoying catching fish, as well. There are people living on a boat, catching small crustaceans and river shrimps. On the riverbank, people gather holding birdcages so the birds can compete in singing in their beautiful voices. Every person goes about their life in a city landscape that is free and relaxing.

We are witness to the fact that the development of Tianjin has accelerated since the beginning of this year, with many projects underway. These projects include the building of a railway line that runs from the city center to the economic technology development area facing Bohai Bay, the large-scale expansion of the subway network in the city and the general development project on either side of the Haihe River that is designed to facilitate the development of tertiary industry. Noisy construction work is conducted until late at night all over the city. The landscape of this city may change completely in a few years. However, I believe that Tianjin, a big city that dresses casually, will maintain its simple, casual atmosphere, due in part to the attitude of the people.

Binjiang Road, the largest downtown district in the city People commuting to work in the early morning Haihe, the symbolic river of Tianjin

Marubeni Group magazine "M-SPIRIT" VOL.18 (November,2003)