Tianjin天津

The questions people ask first about Tianjin, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

• Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
• SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
• Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
• TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
• Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
• SafetyAs safe as any Chinese big city for the usual basics.

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

• Coffee¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6)
• Street or quick mealNoodle soup or a baozi breakfast¥15–40 (≈ US$3–6)
• Beerdraught in a bar / can at a convenience store¥25–45 (≈ US$4–7)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
• Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi¥18–25 (≈ US$3–4)
• Metro or bus rideMetro ride¥2–6 (≈ under US$1) (check)
• Museum or sight ticketMuseum or Tianjin Eye ticketcheck¥30–100 (≈ US$5–14)
• Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCN¥80 (≈ US$12)
• Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥500 (≈ US$70)
• High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥1,100 (≈ US$160)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥300 (≈ US$45) · Mid CN¥650 (≈ US$95) · High CN¥1,400 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Airports

TSN Tianjin Binhai International Airport (Metro Line 2 runs to Tianjin Railway Station, about ¥3; 15 km (9.3 mi) east of the centre) · PKX Beijing Daxing International Airport (Intercity train from the station under the terminal to Tianjin, under 75 min, ¥34–60 (check)) · PEK Beijing Capital International Airport (Airport Express into Beijing, then bullet train from Beijing South; allow 3.5 h+)TSN Tianjin Binhai International Airport (Metro Line 2 runs to Tianjin Railway Station, about ¥3; 9.3 mi (15 km) east of the centre) · PKX Beijing Daxing International Airport (Intercity train from the station under the terminal to Tianjin, under 75 min, ¥34–60 (check)) · PEK Beijing Capital International Airport (Airport Express into Beijing, then bullet train from Beijing South; allow 3.5 h+)

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Budget

¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed

Mid

¥450–900 (≈ US$65–130) excl. bed

High

¥900 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed

• Taxis near Tianjin Railway Station and tourist stops may refuse the meter or tout day tours; walk a block and use the official rank.
• Tianjin South Railway Station is far from the centre and its taxi rank is mostly unlicensed; use Metro Line 3.
• Roads are wide and crossings are often bridges, not tunnels: cross at lights and take care.
• Summer is humid and winter nights drop below −10°C (14°F); pack for the season, not for Beijing's averages.Summer is humid and winter nights drop below 14°F (−10°C); pack for the season, not for Beijing's averages.