As one of China's four municipalities directly under the Central Government, Tianjin is the largest port city in Northern China.

Tianjin has historically been an important port and doorway to Beijing, being 120 kilometers away from the capital. By boarding on a bullet train at the Beijing Southern Railway Station, it now only takes around 40 minutes to get there.

The blend of Chinese and Western cultures also forms Tianjin's distinctive tourism resources. Listed as one of the first groups of outstanding tourist cities in China, Tianjin never loses its appeal to visitors– from mountains, rivers, lakes and the sea to springs, wetlands and local delicacies.

Here are nine of the top places to visit in the city.

A night view of the Haihe River at the Tianjin Eye (center). (Photo by Li Hailiang/provided to chindaily.com.cn) A night view of the Haihe River at the Tianjin Eye (center). (Photo by Li Hailiang/provided to chindaily.com.cn)

1. Haihe River

As the mother river and symbol of Tianjin, the Haihe River, a 72-kilometer-long river, runs through the city and out to the Bohai Sea.

A total of 21 bridges stand over the Haihe River and each constitutes scenic attraction, forming a distinctive bridge culture throughout the region. Rising over the spectacular Yongle Bridge is the Tianjin Eye, an iconic ferris wheel which lights up the city every night.