Tianjin (original) (raw)

Tianjin (天津 also spelt Tientsin, literally meaning "Heavenly Port") is a municipalities and an important harbour city in China on the Hai He river (from Beijing) and Bohai Gulf of the Yellow Sea (Pacific Ocean).

天津市

Province Abbreviation(s):津
Area - Total - % water Ranked xth 11,000 km² xx%
Population - Total (Year) - Density Ranked 27th 10,010,000 910/km²
Administration Type Municipality

Administration

Tianjin is one of four independent municipalities in the People's Republic of China with provincial-level status. Historically, the city was the capital of the Zhili (present Hebei) province.

History

The city first gained its name in 1404 A.D. during Ming Dynasty when a fort was established at the location. The fort was named Tianjin Wei (Fort Tianjin). The city was opened to foreign trade in June 1858, at the end of the first part of the Second Opium War, when the Treaties of Tianjin were signed.

Geography

Tianjin is at the northern end of the Grand Canal of China, which connects with the Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers. Tianjin borders Hebei province and Beijing and the Bohai Gulf of the Yellow Sea.

Political divisions

Tianjin is divided into fifteen districts and three counties The six districts close to the "urban region" (市区) are

Colleges and universities