Overall

Tianjin is an up and coming city in the PRC. Most people usually skip it over because it doesn't have the well-preserved historical sites and booming nightlife that Beijing does. The foreigner community here is also much smaller, so it can be difficult to find things. Still, it's a city with 10 million people, and if you are willing to take the effort to look, there are a few noteworthy rewards to be had. If you're living here, you shouldn't have any problem finding Western items. There are at least 3 Wal-Marts, probably close to a dozen Carrefours, countless McDonalds and Starbucks, and a host of stores that cater specifically to Westerners. Up until now, however, the biggest area Tianjin has been lacking in is nightlife. Yes, there are plenty of KTV bars, but that doesn't cut it for a lot of us. There's also Alibaba's Restaurant, (a great western hangout near Nankai that's nearly impossible to find), the Cosy Cafe, and Bar Street, but you'll find that many times it's the same cover band over and over again wherever you go. Lately, however, there have been a group of foreigners putting together some pretty cool things here, doing cool DJ nights and even a boat party not too long ago. It's kind of hard to find out about them though. There's a website that's helpful if you're looking for stuff, tianjinexpats.com, and that's making things a lot easier. I hope you enjoy your time in Tianjin, should you choose to go. It's going to be an interesting place to watch develop over the next few years.

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6 June 2005 | tianjinexpats

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