Tianjin, China | World’s Best Cities

Tianjin, China

Tianjin’s Fifth Avenue-level of grandeur and cultural bounty rivals any city in our ranking, while its Goubuli steamed buns headline a stealthy culinary scene. Home of the centuries-old xiangsheng, a comedic art form of crosstalk or comic banter akin to stand-up comedy, the city has long exported performers all over China. And its cultural heritage also stands out, with Tianjin’s Museums ranking #27 and its Sights & Landmarks #36. Beyond its cultural roots, the city is rapidly transforming, with urban development and economic investment poised to redefine its landscape through the rest of the decade. As a key part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) economic megaregion, Tianjin’s strategic location makes it a crucial hub for innovation and industry. The city has embraced high-tech sectors, focusing on new energy vehicles, urban rail transit and smart manufacturing. These initiatives have not only driven Tianjin’s GDP to US$11.5 billion in 2023 (and a Top 30 GDP per Capita spot in our ranking) but have also attracted significant investment from domestic and international companies. The city is also unveiling several transformative urban development projects, from Tianjin Binhai New Area, a major economic zone to facilitate finance, high-tech manufacturing and shipping, to the expansion of its Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center.