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Playground through half an hour away
By Erik Nilsson (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-27 07:34
 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. The museum anchors the north side of the ultramodern Galaxy Square. Fleets of stunt kites keep aerial patrol over the plaza, which is centered on a large reflecting pool. A covered walkway extending from the museum. Terminates at the 52-m-tall Full Moon Tower - a cylindrical column containing a spiral staircase and outfitted with flashing multicolored LED lights. East of the plaza, visitors can see the Tianjin Amusement Park, which features 61 sites and attractions, some of which have amusing names like "The Granny Bug", "Jungle Mouse" and "The Brave Ride". After the roller-coaster, the most popular rides are "The Challenger" - a massive spinning pendulum - and "The Wave Urge," which spins, swings and flips riders sitting in a box attached to two giant swiveling arms. (Admission costs 5 yuan, and ride tickets average 8.) Another big draw is Tianjin Zoo, which compensates for its relatively small size with several unique, even odd, features. |
