Sample the best of so-cool Tianjin

(Ecns.cn)—Upon mentioning Tianjin, Goubuli (now Go Believe) steamed buns pop into our minds. But, hey, that can't be the only thing this harbor city can offer.

Tucked away in the northwest Bohai Bay, Tianjin is a window on the sea whose thunder is often stolen by its more prosperous and well-known neighbor, Beijing.

But, when one itches to get closer to the more authentic North Chinese culture, one that hasn't wholly retreated into unseen urban corners, he looks to Tianjin, where traditional Chinese culture takes hands with the Western one and brings a third life into being.

So, where to hang out and where to eat in the so-cool city? Here is a quick guide, as follows:

1) Watch Crosstalk in a teahouse

Though that Beijing is the birthplace of crosstalk – or xiangsheng, Tianjin has kept the best ambiance and tradition of the performing art. It's said the best way to learn about this art is to enjoy a show in a Tianjin teahouse, rather than Beijing's theaters.

The performance sometimes resembles more or less a talk show and mixes anecdotes from history with current affairs and cracks jokes to produce uproarious laughter from the audience. For hundreds of years, Tianjiners have walked into teahouses to relax and socialize.

If interested, take a cab and go to Mingliu Teahouses; they are the most popular among locales. All three chain stores are usually crowded in the evening, thus it suggested you get there as early as late afternoon.

Don't worry, Tianjin people won't stare at you as if you were an alien; after all, after more than a century of contact, they have long got used to the presence of foreigners. Join them at the teahouse and have fun.

2) Spend an evening in the former Italian concession area

Who would know? The unfortunate past of old China has handed down an unusual commercial street to Tianjian- after careful restoration, the former Italian concession area is now the favorite place youngsters go to have a crazy night.

Beer, improvisations, rock and roll music and much more, whatever you expect and even things you didn't expect, may found here on the street.

Surprisingly, here is the area where old Tianjin culture has been preserved and is being relived. Two months ago, it was honored by the government as one of Tianjin's "Commercial Streets with Chinese Characteristics." It is the second street in Tianjin to obtain this state-level "special business street" designation, the other being Tianjin's Ancient Culture Street. What a shame to miss the place when you travel Tianjin.