Italian Style Town

Background

Italian Style Town, also called Italian Style Street, centres on the former Italian concession on the north bank of the Hai River, roughly bounded by Jianguo Road to the north, Bo'ai Road to the south, Wujing Road to the east and Shengli Road to the west. According to Wikipedia, Italy was granted the concession on 7 September 1901 and took it over on 7 June 1902; administered by the Italian consul, it covered about 46 hectares. Italy kept actual control until 1943, and the concession was formally handed over to China in 1947. Built to Italian-style planning during the concession period, it retains consulates, barracks, squares, churches and houses; renovated, the quarter is now a pedestrian historic district combining dining, shopping, culture and tourism, centred on Marco Polo Square, with nearby sights including Dante Square, the Ziyou Road pedestrian street, the former Italian barracks, the Liang Qichao Memorial Hall and the Former Residence of Cao Yu. According to sources, the area was rated a national 4A tourist attraction around 2010, though some sources record it as being added to the 4A list in 2013. Marco Polo Square was named later in Marco Polo's memory and does not mean that he ever came here; for the meaning of sculptures such as the Goddess of Peace statue at its centre, refer to the on-site signs and official information.

Local customs

• Start from Marco Polo Square and walk the grid of streets, taking in the square's fountain and sculptures, the arcades and the red-brick Italian-style buildings
• come back at dusk to see the streets lit up
• try Italian food and local snacks along the way, and drop in at memorial halls, former residences, bookshops and other cultural sites that are open to the public.

Travel tips

• The quarter is open to walk through at any time, while each venue and restaurant sets its own opening and booking rules, so check their official announcements. Take the metro or a bus to a stop around Jianguo Road and walk in
• from the Tianjin Railway Station area you can also walk or take a short ride. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and watch your step on stone paving and the square in rain or at night
• peak times are crowded, so you may prefer to come off-peak.
• Late spring, early summer and autumn suit outdoor walking and time on the square
• summers are hot and winters cold and dry, so mix indoor and outdoor plans according to the day's weather.