After a week spent exploring Inner Mongolia, we decided a city stop would be a fitting way to round out the holiday. Since we had already visited Beijing earlier in the year, we chose to go a bit further and end the holiday with a trip to Tianjin with kids.
Family Holiday to Tianjin with Kids
With four grandparents and two Primary 1 children in our group, we opted to travel by road instead. The drive itself took roughly eight hours, including lunch and dinner stops.
Day 1: Checking In and Calling It a Night
Finding the right accommodation had been no easy task. With elderly and young kids in mind, location became crucial. We needed somewhere close to shops and dining, yet still comfortable for anyone who preferred to stay in.
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In the end, we settled on Tangla Hotel Tianjin — and it exceeded our expectations.
Staying in the Heart of Tianjin – Tangla Hotel, Tianjin
The hotel stands along Nanjing Road in Heping District, right within the historic downtown core. Shopping malls, pedestrian streets and eateries were all around us. Even our more adventurous pair of grandparents could set off on foot and, best of all, still manage to find their way back!
At around S$130 a night, we enjoyed a spacious 60 sqm room with two queen-sized beds and a separate living area — ideal for the kids to unpack their daily haul. The oversized bathtub, though, was my personal favourite.
Pull up the electric curtain and you’re greeted by the city skyline stretching out 40 storeys below. It was a great place to unwind or to savour a Meituan-delivered breakfast while soaking in the tub.
The only minor gripe was the gym, which didn’t open until 10 am during our stay. Then again, keeping up with personal fitness was hardly a priority for us in Tianjin.
Day 2: Exploring Tianjing with Kids
It’s easy to see why first-time visitors to China naturally lean towards Beijing and Shanghai. C-dramas had certainly sparked our curiosity about both. Tianjin, though, gave me a fresh outlook on a city that often lives in the shadow of its more glamorous neighbours.
What surprised me was how extensive its historic foreign architecture is. Nine foreign powers once held concessions here, leaving behind districts shaped by a range of European architectural influences.
Binjiang Road Pedestrian Street (滨江道步行街)
Binjiang Road Pedestrian Street (滨江道步行街) was just across the street from our hotel. We found it far livelier than Wangfujing in Beijing or Nanjing Road in Shanghai.
The shops range from from Tianjin specialities like mahua and pastry gift boxes to MINISO LAND, TOP TOY and smaller anime and blind boxes stores.
One of the most distinctive is the Starbucks Reserve Tianjin Riverside 66 Flagship Store. Set inside a restored former bank built in 1921, its beautiful interior is worth stepping into even if coffee isn’t your main reason for visiting.
For seafood, we dined at Bidian Seafood (必点海鲜·海肠捞饭大王). Our meal for eight, which came to around RMB 1,000, featured a 2.5 kg snow crab, skewers, fish and vegetables.
We were glad that an old-school sightseeing trolley runs along Binjiang Road. At just RMB 5 per person, it spared the grandparents from having to walk the entire shopping stretch.
Hop On and Off an Open-Top Bus
At the end of the street, we chanced upon a hop-on, hop-off open-top bus priced at RMB 50 per person. It carried us past numerous major sights while keeping the amount of walking manageable.
One stop was Italian Style Town (意式风情区), which grew out of Tianjin’s former Italian concession. European-style buildings line its streets, joined by cafés, bars and restaurants. Horse-carriage and buggy tours are also available for those who want to cover more ground without walking.
Another was Ancient Culture Street (古文化街), whose architecture draws on Ming and Qing dynasty styles. Visitors can expect snacks, souvenirs and xiangsheng (相声), or crosstalk, performances.
MEYA Animal Camping at Vanke Plaza (万科广场)
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Following lunch, the grandparents headed back to the hotel while the BOaYs and I continued our search for kids-centric activities in Tianjin.
We were excited to find a challenge-based attraction that offers a variety of mission that tests dexterity, coordination, teamwork and even local trivia.
Our session lasted about 40 minutes and set us back roughly S$16 per person. We would gladly have tried more, but at nearly S$50 for the three of us per mission, the cost adds up quickly.
Day 3: Heritage, History and Hands-on Fun: Exploring Wudadao (五大道)
We started the day at Wudadao (五大道), or the Five Great Avenues. Often described as a “museum of world architecture”, historic villas once associated with prominent personalities sit among indie cafés and bars.
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At its centre lies Minyuan Square (民园广场), a former stadium situated within Tianjin’s old British concession. It is now a public space surround by cafes, museums and people chilling on the lawn.
For lunch, we visited Guiyuan Restaurant (桂园餐厅), known for its Tianjin cuisine. The dishes were delicately prepared and made this one of our better meals in the city. Our bill came to around RMB 900 for eight people.
China National Geography Exploration Centre
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After lunch, the grandparents had free time while I brought the BOaYs to the China National Geography Exploration Centre.
The attraction sits within one of the most striking buildings we encountered at Wudadao. With its British-style architecture and prominent clock tower, you could easily mistake it for a church.
The playspace introduces children to China’s diverse geography through hands-on adventures. The whole experience unfolds like a giant treasure hunt: kids wear a wristband, travel through different zones and scan hidden checkpoints along the way.
Instead of the usual slides and ball pits, the BOaYs encountered climbing challenges, tunnels, interactive simulator rides and geography-themed missions.
While the centre caters to a wider age range, I personally think it is best suited to children around eight and below, and we found the ticket a little steep for what was offered.
Day 4: Taking It Slow Before Heading Home
We kept our final day deliberately unhurried. We headed to Jinmao Place (金茂汇), home to a Neobio indoor playground. This time, however, we saved the admission fee and let the BOaYs expend their energy at the free outdoor playground instead.
From there, it was time for something both young and old could appreciate: two hours at China LiangTse (华夏良子), a Chinese massage chain.
Our visit included buffet meals and a comfortable private room equipped with streaming services and online movies. After several days on the move, it was a fitting way for three generations to wind down together.
Our driver then picked us up for the journey back to Beijing. We spent the night at Fairfield by Marriott Beijing Daxing Airport before flying home the following day.
Our Thoughts on a Tianjin Holiday with Kids & Family
Tianjin offered far more than we had ever expected. Honestly, we only touched the surface. Beyond the city centre lie even more child-friendly attractions, including a real aircraft carrier converted into a tourist site and a large-scale theme park.
What made the trip work well for our multi-generational group was the variety.
We wove together history, shopping, food and kids’ activities without ever having to travel long distances between them. Tianjin may have begun as an afterthought to our Inner Mongolia holiday, but it emerged as a destination that held its own — and one we would gladly revisit.
