The port town of Tanggu – brimming with rustic charm

Tanggu is located on the coast of northern China and is a rapidly growing region with vast potential for economic expansion and tourism. The Tanggu District which is located in the Tianjin municipality was recently incorporated into the newly created Binhai District. The economic importance of the district is due to its location where the Hai River drains into the Bohai Sea, this makes it an ideal location for a port. It serves as a place of transit for ships sailing on the Bohai Sea and along the Hai River and is therefore important in the exchange of goods to and from the northern part of China.

The Tanggu port is also the location for the annual dragon boat races held in Tianjin. The port makes for an ideal locale for this adrenalin charged sport which has been practiced in China for more than 200 years. The races are usually held in conjunction with the Duanwu Festival which is held in celebration of the life of Chinese scholar Qu Yuan.

Because of the busy port of Tanggu it is a point of entry for merchant sailors into Tianjin. Though the town mostly comprises of warehouses and commercial establishments tied into the shipping trade, visitors can find a number of things to entertain themselves in this area. One such example is the Tanggu Exotic Goods Market which is located conveniently near the train station. The market has a number of small boutiques filled with traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, ornaments and exotic fabrics.

The Haihewaitan Park which can be found overlooking the Haihe River is an interesting place for art buffs. The park showcases some of the finest modern art works in the region by local artists. The Tanggu district also has a fine collection of cafes and bars, so don't forget to stop over at the town's Irish Pub and down a pint of Guinness on your way towards Tianjin. Although Tanggu is not considered to be an area frequented by tourists a Tianjin hotel such as Raffles Tianjin can be found in close proximity. Like any other luxury hotel in Tianjin it offers good accommodation and conference facilities for its guests.