Tianjin's rich cultural delights mix old and new (2)

Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

Italian Style Town is a popular attraction in the city of Tianjin. The small area features Italian restaurants and shops that sell European clothing and other items. The buildings in the neighborhood give visitors the feeling that they are walking around the streets of an Italian city rather than through one of China’s biggest cities.(Chinadaily.com.cn/Lance Crayon)

The Tianjin Yangliuqing Fine Arts Press and the Clay Figurine Zhang craft shop are worth visiting as they prove that preserving China's folk art heritage and history is just as much a priority as developing a modern city.

Yangliuqing showcases ancient Chinese painting and writing. It's a living museum and has been a popular art form for more than 300 years. The press, which still produces traditional artwork, was listed as a part of the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006.

The Clay Figurine Zhang craft shop is a diamond in Tianjin. The historical clay figurines are made of ripe clay made from water and sand through a special weathering, filtrating and evaporation process, with the finishing touches applied to each figurine with a small cotton swab.

There are three small workshops where craftsmen create the Zhang figurines. Once completed, they are sold at the company's craft shop located on the second floor.

If you're searching for a unique gift, then this is the place to go. All works are original and created by hand on the spot.

In terms of cultural preservation, the city has not only set an example for other cities in China to follow, but for cities abroad to take notice in learning how to develop properly without sacrificing culture and heritage.

We Recommend

• Helicopters, tanks seen during China-Russia joint drill
• Geopark in Guangxi sees tourism peak
• Parade held to mark Havana Carnival
• Serena Williams beats Poland's Rybarikova 2-0 at 2013 Rogers Cup
• 10 killed in E China expressway collision
• Visa window gives tourists a welcome view