Playground through half an hour away

Unlike many Chinese cities, Tianjin does not conjure images of ancient history. Instead, locals brag about as a "gateway to China's modernity". Even the city's Ancient Culture Street is a misnomer; it was opened in 1986.

Tianjin is also a short distance from Beijing, just a 28-minute trip on the new bullet train that opened on Aug 1. This makes the city, located 115 km from the capital, a perfect destination for quick getaways.

A good starting point to get a sense of the municipality's timeline is the admission-free Tianjin Museum, a hyper-futuristic, glass-encased, crescent-shaped structure.