Administrative districts

Xiqing district

Xiqing, positioned in the southwest of Tianjin, is one of the four core urban districts encircling the city. Encompassing a total area of 565.36 square kilometers, Xiqing is divided into seven towns and five subdistricts, and has a population of 1.19 million.

Within its jurisdiction, the town of Yangliuqing holds historical significance as the birthplace of Yangliuqing woodblock New Year prints, which are counted among China's four major woodblock New Year prints. The district is also home to ancient cultural landmarks, such as the Yaowang Ancient Temple, constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and the Wenchang Pavilion, dating to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Additionally, Xiqing is traversed by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wuqing district

Wuqing district, one of Tianjin's 16 districts, was formerly known as Quanzhou and is alternatively referred to as Yongyang. It holds a strategic position at the heart of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, sharing borders with Tongzhou district in Beijing and the city of Langfang in Hebei province. This geographical location fosters dynamic cultural and economic exchanges.

Covering a total area of 1,574 square kilometers, Wuqing is composed of five subdistricts and 24 towns and has as of 2022 a population of 1.14 million. The district has evolved into a hub for commercial and industrial clusters, featuring prominent establishments such as the Florentia Village outlet mall, Creativo, Veneto and V1 Auto World.

Wuqing has cultivated a unique regional public brand for its agricultural products—"Wuqing Fruit & Vegetable" that covers charming subbrands including "Xiaotu Baba" (inspired by the image of a little rabbit pulling a radish), "Xiaoxiong Baibai" (depicting a little bear picking up corn), and "Xiaoque Dengzhi" (capturing the essence of a magpie climbing a branch to symbolize luck). These initiatives have significantly enhanced the district's urban visibility and influence.

Binhai New Area

Binhai New Area, located in the eastern coastal part of Tianjin, serves as the maritime gateway for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In 2009, the State Council approved the establishment of the Binhai New Area as an administrative region. With an area of 2,270 square kilometers and a coastline of 153 kilometers, it encompasses five national-level development zones and 21 towns. The area is home to Tianjin Port and Tianjin Binhai International Airport, as well as four high-speed rail stations and one international cruise home port. Binhai New Area has numerous cultural facilities and large performance venues, including the Binhai Library, the National Maritime Museum, the Zhou Dafu Financial Center, the Binhai TEDA Aircraft Carrier Theme Park, Dongjiang Bay Beach, and Tianjin Haichang Polar Ocean Park, which have become popular tourist destinations.

The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), established in 1984, is positioned as the core area for advanced manufacturing research and development and the core area of “the new era beautiful Binhai". It focuses on the development of industries such as new-generation information technology, chemical new materials, automobile manufacturing, and biomedicine.

Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone, established in 1991, aims to become a world-class free trade zone, with a focus on high-end equipment manufacturing, the marine economy, transportation equipment manufacturing, and international trade.

The Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Zone, established in 1988, aims to become a world-class high-tech park, with a focus on new economic services, biomedicine, new energy, and high-end equipment manufacturing.

The Tianjin Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone, established in 2008, intends to become the core functional area of the Northern International Shipping Center and the national leasing and import trade promotion innovation demonstration zone. It focuses on industries such as financial leasing and commercial factoring, international trade, and shipping logistics.

Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, established in 2008, envisions its future as a demonstration zone for integrated production and city development, a demonstration zone for green development, a smart city demonstration zone, and an international cooperation demonstration zone. It focuses on industries such as smart technology, animation, tourism, and health.

Baodi district

Located in the northern part of Tianjin, Baodi district was established as a county in 1172 AD. Known for its simple and honest folk traditions and rich cultural heritage, it is often referred to as "Wen Baodi", reflecting its cultural significance. Currently, the district is comprised of 24 streets and towns, covers a total area of 1509 square kilometers and has a population of 757,200.

The region features a flat terrain, mild climate, distinct seasons, and a beautiful landscape. It is home to the Chaobai River National Wetland Park, covers a total area of 5581.9 hectares, and boasts a forest coverage rate of 34 percent.

Baodi is recognized as a national-level demonstration area for ecological civilization construction and has been designated by the Ministry of Land and Resources as the "City of Chinese Hot Springs".

The district is renowned for its distinctive agricultural products, such as rice, chili peppers, freshwater fish, and shrimp. Its Baodi Pingju Opera, Jingdong Drumming, and Gourd pyrography are recognized as national intangible cultural heritages.

Beichen district

Beichen district is one of the four districts encircling Tianjin. Situated in the northern part of the downtown area, it serves as a golden corridor connecting the two mega-cities, Beijing and Tianjin, and acts as a crucial gateway for showcasing Tianjin's image. Covering a total area of 473.16 square kilometers, Beichen district is divided into nine towns and eight streets, comprised of 121 administrative villages and 158 communities. The registered population is 474,000, and the permanent population is 947,000.

Within the district lies Beichen Suburban Park, the largest in the city. It has evolved into a green ecological corridor of the northern part of Tianjin.

Dongli district

Dongli district is situated at the core area of Binhai New Area and in the "Golden Corridor" between Beijing and Tianjin. The total area of the region is 475 square kilometers, and it includes 11 streets and three parks. It has a residential population of 928,000. Tianjin Binhai International Airport is within the district, and the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway is at Junliangchengbei Railway Station, with a straight-line distance of 30 kilometers to Tianjin Port.

Dongli is home to several notable attractions, including Tianjin Happy Valley and Dongli Lake Evergrande Hot Spring Tourist Area, both recognized as 4A-level tourist attractions. The district is famous for intangible cultural heritage crafts and hobbies such as Wuji boxing (a martial art form), Dazheng paper-cutting, traditional crafting skills like making Chitu meatballs, and cultural heritage items like Dayang Baonian, a type of ceremonial carriage. Leisure tourists can explore places such as Dongxin Flower Market, Huzhangzhuang Grape Picking Garden, the Machine Tool Museum, all of which are popular destinations for relaxation and tourism.

Heping district

Heping district in Tianjin covers an area of 9.98 square kilometers. It is administratively divided into six sub-districts, with a population of 344,000. As the century-old commercial center of Tianjin and one of the first national pilot cities for cultural and tourism consumption, Heping boasts two landmark business districts – Golden Street and Five Avenues. It is home to 25 well-known Chinese time-honored brands, including Quanyechang and Gobelieve.

Heping’s North Jiefang Road is an important birthplace of modern finance in China, known as the Wall Street of the East. It witnessed the establishment of China's first stock exchange and the issuance of the country's first set of stamps, the Dragon stamp.

As a national comprehensive tourism demonstration area, Heping preserves 76 percent of the historical architecture and celebrity residences in the city. Approximately 42% of the district's area is designated as historical and cultural blocks. The Five Avenues area has 436 historical Western-style buildings, making it the most complete collection of Western-style architecture in Tianjin -- and even in all of China -- often referred to as the "exposition of buildings from around the world."

Hebei district

Hebei district is the birthplace and one of the central urban areas of Tianjin, named after its location just north of the Haihe River. With an administrative area of 29.60 square kilometers, it has a resident population of 639,400 and is divided into 10 sub-districts. Six rivers – the Haihe River, Xinkai River, Beiyun River, Yueya River, Beitang Drainage River, and Ziyu River – either surround the district or traverse through it.

Hebei district is home to numerous historical and cultural landmarks, including the Tianjin Juewu Society Memorial Hall, Tianjin Jiao’an Former Site, Italian-style architecture area, Dabei Taoist Temple, and the former residence of Li Shutong. It is renowned for its rich historical and cultural landscapes, coining the expression "Learn about modern China in Tianjin, know about Tianjin’s hundreds years of history in Hebei district."

Hedong district

Hedong district is one of the downtown districts in Tianjin, named after its location, which is on the east bank of the Haihe River, which stretches 8.28 kilometers through the district. Covering an area of 41.63 square kilometers, it is administratively divided into 13 sub-districts, with a population of 848,900. The district has significant transportation advantages, being home to the Tianjin Railway Station transportation hub and close in proximity to Binhai International Airport.

Hedong district has a rich historical and cultural heritage. With a history of over 800 years, it is home to one of the city’s cultural relics sites, the Museum of Imperial Concubine Palace Relic Site of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The district also has a glorious industrial development history, being the birthplace of the first China-made watch (Wuxing Watch) and the first China-made bicycle (Flying Pigeon).

Hexi district

Hexi district is situated on the west bank of the Haihe River, and has an administrative area of 48.17 square kilometers. It is divided into 14 sub-districts and has a resident population of approximately 822,200. As the municipal-level administrative center, the district hosts the offices of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government. It serves as an important venue for the political activities and international exchanges of Tianjin, functioning as a key window for the city’s opening up and exchanges with the outside world.

Hexi district is also recognized as a municipal-level financial center, boasting nearly 1,200 financial institutions. Among them, 21 domestic headquarter-type banks, including those from the industrial, agricultural, commercial, construction, and communication sectors, account for 62 percent of the city's total bank headquarters. Furthermore, the district is a municipal-level cultural and artistic center, housing key cultural institutions, such as the Tianjin Grand Theatre, the Tianjin Library, the Tianjin Art museum, and the Tianjin Museum. It is renowned as the "City Reception Hall" of Tianjin.

Hongqiao district

Hongqiao district is one of the six urban districts in Tianjin, situated in the northwest part of the city, spanning an area of 23.76 square kilometers. Characterized by a distinctive natural landscape, the district comprises nine subdistricts and has a permanent population of 428,800 residents.

Tianjinxi Railway Station, strategically positioned in Hongqiao district, functions as a pivotal transportation nexus for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Enjoying direct connectivity to Beijing Daxing International Airport, the district solidifies its role as a key gateway for Tianjin's seamless integration into the coordinated development of the region. Furthermore, it serves as a vital link for enterprises from Northeast, North, and Northwest China to connect with Beijing.

As the construction of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Business District gains momentum, Hongqiao district experiences a concentration of high-end industries, including digital economy, platform economy, research and development, design and high-end services.

The consumer market thrives, with Northwest Corner Food Street standing out as a cultural and gastronomic landmark and emerging as a new focal point for the integrated development of commerce, culture, and tourism in Tianjin.

Jizhou district

Jizhou district is located in the northernmost part of Tianjin. Historically known as Wuzhong and Yuyang, Jizhou boasts a rich history of human activity that spans over 8,000 years, and its administrative roots date back to 2,244 years ago. Recognized by the United Nations as a "Millennium Ancient County" in China, this region encompasses an area of 1,590 square kilometers and oversees 26 townships and one subdistrict. It has a population of 789,000.

Jizhou holds the distinction of being the sole mountainous and reservoir-containing area and is designated as a national revolutionary district in Tianjin. Leveraging its unique geographical advantage, the district showcases a superior ecological environment and abundant tourism resources, earning it the moniker "the garden of Beijing-Tianjin region".

Jizhou stands out as a national practice innovation base, championing the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". Additionally, it has been recognized as a national ecological civilization construction demonstration area, one of the first national comprehensive tourism demonstration zones, and is renowned as one of China's "Natural Oxygen Zones".

Jinnan distric

Jinnan district is situated on the southern bank of the lower and middle reaches of the Haihe River and covers an area of 388 square kilometers. It serves as the "Golden Corridor" for inheriting urban functions from the downtown area and industrial functions from the Binhai New Area. The district is composed of eight towns and three subdistricts, and has a population of 930,000.

Notable landmarks in Jinnan district include the Haihe Education Park and the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Tianjin). Significantly, the establishment of a green ecological barrier spans 44.8 percent of the city's planned area. Jinnan takes pride in its rich cultural heritage deeply rooted in canal culture, Mazu culture and folk traditions, as well as its renowned military and rice culture, showcasing a history that resonates through the ages.

Nankai district

Nankai stands as one of Tianjin's six central districts, encompassing an administrative area of 41.43 square kilometers. Organized into 12 subdistricts, Nankai is home to a population of 890,400. The Laochengxiang area, situated in the district, is the historic birthplace of Tianjin, once serving as its political, economic and cultural core.

Prominent landmarks such as the Drum Tower, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, the Tianhou Temple, and the Confucius Temple grace Nankai, accentuating its historical and cultural significance. The district also boasts intangible cultural heritage, including the renowned Clay Figure Zhang, the vibrant Tianjin Imperial Temple Fair, the craftsmanship of Kite Wei, a time-honored folk kite brand in Tianjin, and the traditional dusting tools of the Cai family, which were once royal tributes.

Ninghe district

Ninghe district, situated in the northeast part of Tianjin, spans an area of 1,296 square kilometers. The district, which administers 13 towns and two subdistricts, boasts a population of 410,700. Ninhe is renowned for its picturesque landscape and is recognized as a national demonstration area for ecological civilization construction, earning the moniker "Northern Jiangnan". With well-established transportation infrastructure, abundant natural resources, a robust industrial foundation, and a deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage, the district is dedicated to fostering year-round cultural tourism and establishing itself as a key agricultural hub.

Aligning with the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Ninghe exemplifies innovation, competitiveness and dynamic growth. The district is home to the Qilihai National Wetland Park, one of the world's three ancient coastal wetlands, as well as landmarks such as Lutai Primary School, the first local primary school in China. Ninghe takes pride in its association with historical figures such as Yu Fangzhou, one of the founders of the Communist Party of China’s Tianjin branch, Yu Min, known as the father of the Chinese hydrogen bomb, and Wang Zhao, a proponent of modern phonetic writing.