Jin Street is located in Heping District, Tianjin. It is one of the most representative commercial pedestrian streets in Tianjin, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and a Tianjin municipal-level commercial demonstration street, enjoying the reputation of "Tianjin's First Street". The scenic area is characterized by the integration of century-old European-style buildings with a modern commercial atmosphere, retaining the cultural heritage of old Tianjin's marketplace and showcasing the vibrant urban commercial vitality. There are many historical and cultural buildings in the street, many of which were built in the early 20th century, with architectural styles including Gothic and Baroque. For example, the Quanye Chang Building covers an area of about 2,100 square meters, with a construction area of 17,300 square meters. Heping Road Jin Street has a total length of about 1,200 meters and a total area of about 180,000 square meters, with an average daily passenger flow of over 100,000 people. It is one of the core areas for shopping, tourism, and leisure in Tianjin.
History and Culture
The history of Heping Road Jin Street can be traced back to the early 20th century. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, a commercial street gradually took shape here. Due to its proximity to the Haihe River Wharf, it became one of the earliest commercial gathering places in Tianjin. In 1905, the eastern section of Heping Road (then called "Du Zonglingshi Road") began to be built, followed by the gradual development of the western section (called "Xu Street"). By the 1920s and 1930s, it had become one of the most prosperous commercial districts in North China, gathering many merchants from home and abroad.
In the course of historical changes, Jin Street has witnessed the modern development of Tianjin. Many time-honored shops were born here and have continued to this day. For example, Zhongyuan Company (now Tianjin Department Store) founded in 1928 and Quanye Chang, which opened in 1931. These commercial landmarks are not only witnesses to the history of Jin Street but also carry the collective memory of Tianjin people. In 2000, Heping Road was renovated and upgraded, officially named "Jin Street", becoming a comprehensive commercial district integrating shopping, catering, culture, and tourism.
Main Attractions
Tianjin Quanye Chang
Tianjin Quanye Chang is a landmark building of Jin Street. It was built in 1928 with investment from national capitalist Gao Xingqiao. The building is of reinforced concrete structure, with a main body of 7 floors and a partial 8th floor, a total height of about 40 meters, and a construction area of 17,300 square meters. The architectural style integrates Gothic and Baroque elements, with a bell tower on the top, which has an exquisite shape. Quanye Chang was once one of the most high-end shopping malls in Tianjin, with an exquisite internal layout, featuring various formats such as department stores, catering, and entertainment. It is still in operation today and is a must-visit place for tourists to experience the commercial history of Tianjin.
Tianjin Department Store
Tianjin Department Store, formerly known as Zhongyuan Company, was founded in 1928 and is located at the intersection of Heping Road and Binjiang Road. The building covers an area of about 3,000 square meters, with a construction area of about 20,000 square meters, and is a modern eclectic style building. The building was once the largest department store in Tianjin and was rebuilt in the 1980s, retaining the historical features of the original building. Today, it remains an important shopping place in Jin Street, selling various department store goods, and is also one of the landmark buildings in the commercial development of Tianjin.
Jin Street Sculpture Group
There are multiple groups of sculptures reflecting Tianjin's history, culture, and marketplace life distributed in the middle and eastern sections of Jin Street, such as "shoe repairer", "sugar pile seller", and "rickshaw puller". These sculptures are made of bronze, with a height of 1.5-2 meters, vividly reproducing the life scenes of old Tianjin, adding a strong cultural atmosphere to the street, and becoming popular spots for tourists to take photos.
Cuisine
Goubuli Baozi (Jin Street Branch)
Goubuli Baozi is one of the most representative snacks in Tianjin. The Jin Street branch is located in the middle section of Heping Road and was founded in 1858. Its buns are famous for their thin skin, large filling, even folds (each bun has no less than 18 folds), and delicious taste. They are made of high-quality pork and flour, with unique seasonings. In addition to traditional pork-filled buns, the store also has various flavors such as three fresh fillings and vegetarian fillings. The price of a cage ranges from 30 to 60 yuan, making it one of the first choices for tourists to taste Tianjin's characteristic cuisine.
Shibajie Mahua (Jin Street Flagship Store)
Shibajie Mahua began in 1927, and the Jin Street flagship store is one of its important stores. This mahua is famous for its fragrance, crispness, tenderness, and sweetness. It is made of refined flour, sesame, rock sugar, walnut kernels, and other raw materials. Each mahua is about 30-40 centimeters long and weighs about 100-200 grams, with a golden color and a crispy taste. In addition to the traditional sweet mahua, there are also flavors such as salt and pepper and chocolate. The price ranges from 20 to 100 yuan per catty according to weight and taste. It is not only a characteristic food but also a good gift for relatives and friends.
Recommended Surrounding Cuisine
There are many characteristic restaurants around Jin Street (within a 10-minute walk), such as the Erduoyan Fried Cake Shop on Binjiang Road. Its fried cakes have a crispy outer skin and a soft inner filling, with a price of about 5 yuan each. There is also Hongqi Restaurant (Heping Road Branch), which specializes in Tianjin cuisine. Among them, dishes such as Zengbeng Carp and Tiebo Bo Ao Xiaoyu are very popular, with an average consumption of about 80-120 yuan per person, providing tourists with a variety of food choices.
Tickets
Free admission.
Opening Hours
The Jin Street area is open 24 hours a day, but the business hours of shops, catering establishments, etc. in the street vary. Generally speaking, most shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00, and most catering establishments are open from 9:00 to 23:00. Some time-honored shops may open half an hour or an hour earlier. Please refer to the actual business hours of each merchant for details.
Tour Route
Recommended tour route: Start from the eastern end of Jin Street (near Jinwan Plaza). First, visit Tianjin Quanye Chang to experience the charm of historical architecture, which takes about 1 hour. Then walk west along Heping Road, passing by the Jin Street Sculpture Group, where you can appreciate them and take photos as souvenirs, taking about 30 minutes. Next, reach Tianjin Department Store to experience the integration of modern commerce and historical buildings, taking about 1 hour. At noon, you can have a meal at Goubuli Baozi or nearby restaurants and take a rest for about 1.5 hours. In the afternoon, continue to tour westward, wander around the characteristic shops and time-honored brands along the way, such as Shibajie Mahua Store, and buy characteristic souvenirs, taking about 2 hours. In the evening, you can go to the intersection of Binjiang Road at the western end of Jin Street to feel the atmosphere of the street under the night lights. The total tour time is about 6-8 hours, and the duration of each part can be adjusted according to personal interests.
Transportation
- Subway: You can take Tianjin Metro Line 3 to Heping Road Station, get out from Exit A, and walk about 300 meters to reach the eastern section of Jin Street; or take Metro Line 1 to Yingkoudao Station and walk about 800 meters to reach the western section of Jin Street.
- Bus: Many bus routes are available, such as Route 1, 20, 37, 45, 609, 610, 611, 619, etc. Get off at Heping Road Station or Quanye Chang Station and walk 50-200 meters to enter Jin Street.
- Taxi: Take a taxi to Jin Street in Tianjin. It is about 5 kilometers from Tianjin Station, with a driving time of 15-20 minutes and a cost of about 15-20 yuan; it is about 15 kilometers from Tianjin South Station, with a driving time of 30-40 minutes and a cost of about 30-40 yuan.
- Self-driving: There are multiple parking lots around Jin Street, such as Quanye Chang Underground Parking Lot and Department Store Parking Lot. The parking fee is about 8-10 yuan per hour. Due to the large flow of people in the street, it is recommended not to drive unless necessary.
Must-visit Attractions
- Tianjin Quanye Chang: The landmark building of Jin Street, integrating history and commerce, with a total construction area of 17,300 square meters. The 7-story main structure is matched with an exquisite bell tower. You can visit the interior for free to feel the commercial prosperity of Tianjin in the early 20th century.
- Jin Street Sculpture Group: Multiple groups of bronze sculptures depict the marketplace life of old Tianjin. With a height of 1.5-2 meters, they are vivid and lifelike. It is an excellent place to learn about Tianjin's folk culture and perfect for taking photos as a memento.
- Tianjin Department Store: A time-honored department store with a construction area of about 20,000 square meters and a modern eclectic architectural style. It allows you to shop and appreciate historical buildings at the same time, experiencing the changes of commerce from ancient to modern times.
Tour Suggestions
- Recommended tour time: Half a day to a day. You can arrange the proportion of time for shopping, food, and sightseeing according to personal interests.
- Best tour season: Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October). The climate is pleasant and the temperature is moderate, suitable for long walks.
- Shopping suggestions: There are many time-honored shops in the street. When buying characteristic foods such as mahua and baozi, it is recommended to choose regular stores and pay attention to checking the production date and shelf life.
- Catering suggestions: Try to avoid peak dining hours (12:00-13:30, 18:00-19:30). You can check the queuing situation of popular restaurants on your mobile phone in advance to save time.
- Photography suggestions: The bell tower of Quanye Chang, the sculpture group, and the appearance of the department store are popular photo spots. It is recommended to take photos before 10 am or in the evening when the light is more suitable.
Matters needing attention
- The street has a large flow of people, especially on holidays. Please take good care of your personal belongings and avoid exposing valuables in crowded places.
- The floors inside some historical buildings may be slippery. Please pay attention to walking safety when visiting. Wearing comfortable flat shoes is more suitable for long walks.
- Abide by the regulations of the merchants in the street. Do not smoke in non-smoking areas and take good care of public facilities and sculptures.
- When tasting food, pay attention to choosing restaurants with good sanitary conditions and avoid overeating to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
- If you need to ask for directions or seek help, you can go to the tourist service center in the street (located 50 meters west of Quanye Chang), where staff are available for consultation.