Tianjin, TJ, China

Answer 1

Much like Shanghai, Chongqing, and Beijing, Tianjin is a city in China that is without a province. It is its own municipality, which affords the city a considerable amount of autonomy. Tianjin is often overlooked as a travel destination, with travelers opting to visit nearby Beijing.

Its recent claim to fame was as a host to the 2008 Olympics. In preparation for this honor, the city underwent significant restorations, sprucing up many of its notable buildings with plaques that detail historical information. As part of the city reinventing itself (and competing for tourists with Beijing), Tianjin took on some serious structural resurfacing like widening roads and leveling large portions of the city to improve upon its subway system.

Though it has made great strides towards modernizing itself, Tianjin is still a long way from becoming a cosmopolitan city. Tourists to this area should definitely make Tianjin a stop, but they may not want to completely forgo the trip to Beijing.