The Wellington College International Tianjin opened in 2011 and is an associate school of the renowned UK based Wellington College. Other
international schools in Tianjin include the Rego International School
and the Maple Leaf International High School.
Opting for an international school in China has the added benefit of facilitating integration into the expat community through school events
and opportunities to get involved with the PTA.
Transportation in Tianjin
Driving in Tianjin, and elsewhere in China, can be hazardous. Road conditions can be poor, many local cars have inadequate safety standards
and reckless driving is common. Expats new to the country are advised
to use other means of transport, at least to begin with. Some companies
do not even permit their foreign national employees to drive in China.
Taxis are a popular means of transport in Tianjin. You should only use licensed taxis, which in Tianjin, can easily be identified by the
letter E that is on the taxi’s number plate. Licensed taxis should also
have a taxi sign on the roof and you should be able to view the driver’s
ID. Avoid any taxis that have no evidence of being licensed.
Buses are the most widely used form of transport in Tianjin. There is also a subway that currently operates on four lines across the city,
with further lines planned and in construction. A City Card can be
purchased, which allows travel on both the subway and buses.
There are many railway stations in the city, with the largest being Tianjin Railway Station. Services operating from this station include a
bullet train to Beijing. A shuttle bus service runs between Tianjin
Railway Station and Tianjin Airport. The airport has regular flights to
other major cities in China as well as international flights to
destinations all over the world.
Culture and Leisure
The Tianjin Eye, built in 2007 on a bridge, affords the best views of the city. On a clear day, you can see the surrounding area up to 40
km away. Expats living in Tianjin can also step back in time by visiting
the Dule Temple, the oldest wooden pavilion in China. There are several
museums in Tianjin too, including a museum of old Chinese artifacts at
the Astor Hotel and the folk museum in Tianhou Palace.
Teahouses are an important part of the Chinese culture, where entertainment is laid on while you drink tea. Tianjin teahouses are
particularly known for their crosstalk entertainment, a form of comic
monologue or dialogue.
In Tianjin’s Ji county you can visit the Huangyaguan Great Wall, originally built in the 6th century AD and subsequently extended and
renovated. Major restoration undertaken in 1987 means it is now the
longest renovated part of China’s Great Wall.
Further outside the city, you can also get close to nature in the Baxian Mountain National Nature Reserve, with paths through the
mountains and gullies and the chance to see many species of animals and
plants.
