7 Days in Tianjin

Walk the riverfront from Jiefang Bridge, ride the Tianjin Eye after dark when the bridges are lit, and give the Italian quarter its lamplit hour.

1. Tianjin Eye
2. Ancient Culture Street
3. Drum Tower
4. Italian Style Town

Start at Minyuan Plaza before tour groups, fold in the Porcelain House and the cathedral, then book a xiangsheng teahouse for the evening.

1. Five Great Avenues
2. Jingyuan Villa
3. Porcelain House
4. Xikai Cathedral

Reserve both free museums online the night before, respect the Monday closures, and budget the full morning for the 45 km ride east.

1. National Maritime Museum
2. Binhai Library

A gentle day — the museum campus in Hexi in the morning, a long Nanshi lunch, then an unhurried riverside walk as the lamps come on.

1. Tianjin Museum
2. Nanshi Food Street
3. Hai River

Woodblock workshops in Yangliuqing in the morning; ride up the TV tower at dusk for the whole lit grid of the city at a glance.

1. Yangliuqing Ancient Town
2. Tianjin Radio and TV Tower

The intercity train takes about half an hour each way — a full day for the capital's core sights, back to Tianjin for a late riverfront dinner.

1. Beijing

About two hours each way to Jizhou — a quiet, restored-once stretch of wall in a river valley; go early, carry water, watch the sunset light on the towers.

1. Huangyaguan Great Wall