Page 70 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Creative heritage and experiential tourism

our country is more powerful than before, and we the former concessions (Figure 2). Today, the concessions
are more confident in ourselves, so even if it evokes a represent an important resource for the municipality, which is
painful image, we have realized that it is a treasure for actively looking for innovative development strategies.
China. We pay more attention. We have already talked
about this 6 or 7 years ago; the heritage of the early 2.2.2. In search of a tourist identity
20 century in Tianjin signifies a transition of Chinese Tianjin’s tourism image has long remained ambiguous.
th
society from feudalism to modernity, with cultural Although its proximity to Beijing allows visitors easy
collision and mixture, and the introduction of Western access, competition between the two cities has made
civilization, which have formed a very special culture it difficult for Tianjin to establish itself as a major
of Tianjin. In fact, it is the same type as Macao, which tourist destination. However, in the early 2000s, Tianjin
has been listed as a world heritage. However, since accelerated its tourism development efforts. The festivities
Tianjin is closer to the interior of the country, these associated with the 600 anniversary of the city’s founding
th
exchanges can be deeper and broader. The work of considerably heightened government officials’ awareness
inscription on the World Heritage List concerns various of the city’s opportunities as a unique tourist destination,
aspects; we are still in the preparation phase. (Interview primarily based on the heritage of its former concessions.
excerpt 1, Vice-director of Land Resource and Housing
Management Bureau of Tianjin Municipality, 2016) A major exhibition, “A Hundred Years of China through
Tianjin” (中华百年看天津; Zhonghua bainian kan Tianjin),
In 2004, for the celebration of the city’s 600 anniversary, a was designed to position Tianjin as the quintessence of modern
th
new narrative emphasizing an “open city” emerged, grounded Chinese society and a showcase of diverse architectural styles
in the historical legacy of the Westernization Movement. (Marinelli, 2010b). The branding of the city focused on this
This reinterpretation marked a shift in how the history of unique feature. Referred to as the “International Exposition of
the former concessions was framed (Gravari-Barbas et al., Architecture” (万国建筑博览会; Wanguo jianzhu bolanhui),
2020). For instance, the Tianjin Museum of Modern History, the city’s communication insisted on the exemplary character
located in the Wudadao area of the former British concession, of its Sino-Western urban architecture. The former colonial
highlights the narrative change around the cosmopolitan city: phase of Tianjin was actively reinterpreted as the starting
“Synthesizing the essence of both Western and East cultures, point of the construction of modern China, as illustrated in
Tianjin had become the epitome of multiculturalism” the following interview excerpt:
(Gravari-Barbas et al., 2020, p. 71). Interestingly, the highest
concentration of historical buildings in Tianjin is located in I would like to share our thoughts on heritage and
the former concessions (Lu & Li, 2005), as much of the old culture. We have always paid great attention to the
city was demolished before 2005. Among the 14 designated exploitation of cultural resources, especially for the
historic and cultural districts of the city, 11 are located within city of Tianjin, because the natural resources are
limited, and the cultural resource is our basis for
tourism development. Hence, we are always working
on culture and heritage. Even though the city of
Tianjin has only a little over 600 years of history, it is
a city of character, and the modern history of Tianjin
is unique in China, including architecture, stories, and
intangible heritage. How to link this cultural wealth to
tourism? It is often said that tourism without culture
is tourism without spirit. We have also given advice
to the Tianjin culture departments on this subject,
the Ancient Culture Street, the Wudadao district, the
Grand Canal, etc. However, development should not
surpass protection. (Interview excerpt 2, Director of
Tianjin Municipal Tourism Bureau of Tourism, 2018)

Since the 2000s, Tianjin authorities have financed a
remarkable number of redevelopment projects (Figure 2),
most of which involve the renovation and enhancement of
the architecture and historic districts located in the former
Figure 2. Main projects for creative tourism in the former concessions
of Tianjin concessions. Through urban planning and redevelopment
Source: Illustration by Yue Lu. strategy, these areas have transformed into weekend

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3703