Tianjin's modern cityscape        2008-6-22 9:35:56

When it's being grilled, an egg is broken and spread over top of the pancake, then a sweet soy sauce and a hot sauce is spread over the pancake. The pancake is then wrapped around a Chinese donut .

There are some snacks that are only for the brave of stomachs. In fall, grasshoppers aren't only seen in the grass, but also on plates. When the leaves change color, peddlers setup stalls along the roads and fry up some grasshoppers.

For those who are hungry to dip their chopsticks into Chinese dishes of various flavors, the Nanshi Food Street provides some of the country's best choices. It's particularly known for its seafood, culled from the port area of Tanggu. In typical Chinese custom, the fish is brought live to your table for your pre-cooking approval before being prepared.

Most of the bars are on Youyi Lu in Hexi District. Lots of bars feature and international cast that spans the globe.

RESTAURANTS
Goubuli Baozi Dian 
Specializes in the tasty meat buns.
Add: 322 Heping Lu, Heping District
Open Time:  10am to 9pm

Gujing Da Jiudian
Guangdong and Tianjin cuisine.
Add: 1 Yiqu, Nanshi Shipin Jie
Open Time: 10amtogpm

Hongqishun Fanzhuang 
Offers Muslim cuisine.
Add:  666 Dagu Nan Lu, Hexi District
Open Time: 10am to 9pro

All of Tianijn's snacks can be found at the Nanshi Food Street

Nanshi Food Street
The street is packed with restaurants and snack shops.
Add:  NanShi Qinghe Jie, Heping District
Open Time: 10amto9pm

Qishilin Xicanting
One of the oldest European restaurants in the city.
Add: 27 Zhejiang Lu, Heping District
Open Time: 10amto9pm

Tianjin Caiguan
Delicious Tianjin cuisine, especially recommend are their stir-fried crab eggs  and babao tuoguyu ,a fish that's been de-boned.
Add:  20 Nanshi Shipin Jie Siqu
Open Time:  10amto9pm
 
Souvenirs
The Quanyechang Bazaar  has stood at the juncture of Binjiang Lu and Heping Lu for more than 70 years and remains a favorite shopping area for locals. 

Head over to Xiangzhong Lu where there's a pedestrian street to explore and do some souvenir hunting.

Carpets and rugs are Tianjin specialties; they can be pricey if they're handmade since they're very labor intensive. Tongqingli Shopping Street,in the Old Culture Street area, has souvenirs galore and is housed inside a complex often old courtyard homes.
If you're looking for some modernity then head over to Golden Street , where the city's upscale shopping district is located. With malls and plazas line the streets, Tianjin is just as fashionable as Beijing and with much better prices.

Entertainment
Tianjin Grand Plaza
A large entertainment complex with an opera house, western restaurants, bars, and KTV.
Add: 44 Guangrong Lu, Hongqiao District
Open Time: lpm to 3am

Souvenir hunting among Qing-style buildings in the Old Culture Street

Tianjin Mingliu Teahouse
Local folk performances while sipping tea and munching on snacks.
Add:  177 Xinhua Lu, Heping District
Open Time:  2pm to 6pm, Variety shows
            7:45pm to 10:30pm, Comic dialogues
Charge: RMB 5, Variety shows
        RMB 10, Comic dialogues

Quotes
 "Although it has the misfortune of being shadowed by the capital city of Beijing,
 Tianjin is treasure trove for those who are interested in both traditional Chinese  folk art and western culture."
  "It's a major city but has the leisure of a small town. Watching grannies doing Taichi in the early morning is a lot of fun."