Ancient Culture Street, Tianjin

Overall, I think the things sold here are good for tourists. There are many nice teashops and art shops. The famous Beijing Opera mask shop is also very cool. You can also buy hand-tailored Qipao's(traditional Chinese dress's) for a very good price. This is one of the more interesting sights I've visited in Tianjin and would suggest it to anyone traveling there.

I really enjoyed the day I spent at culture street in Tianjin. There is a lot of cool shops, it is clean, the people are nice and it is a great place to find gifts for people back home. Do not be afraid to bargain. If you are unsure how to bargain shop slowly, if you see something you like, keep walking, there will be another shop with the same item. Let the shop-owners do the bargaining for you. They will compete for your business. I usually paid about 2/3 of what they originally asked. There is a very cool Temple/Shrine area to see at culture street. It is only about a dollar for a ticket and it is very worth the dollar. Overall, the quality of the goods offered at culture street in Tianjin was very good and the prices were amazing. Remember to take RMB though, I think it is the only form of currency accepted. Also be prepared to exercise your Mandarin, because there is very very little English spoken.

This is a must for anyone who likes a good bargain though you will need to do some bargaining to get the best prices. Either a little mandarin, calculator or pen and paper always helps. The people are very friendly, always with a smile (unless you offer a ridiculous price) and not too pushy unlike a few other large cities in China. If you're good, and depending on the goods you are buying, you can get the price down by as much as 60%! Do bear in mind that when it comes to clothing you often get what you pay for. I've had the odd silk item fall apart if it's sneeked in to the washing machine rather than being hand washed. Very good for nik-naks as presents.

Ancient Culture street is definately worth a look. It's clean with ample souvenirs that are easy to pack. Some culture if you take the time. Minimal fake designer bags and watch sellers. As soon as we arrived I'm reminded of Chinatown in any western capital city, but this one's cleaner. Kinda reminded me of a movie set.

The buildings are new, clean, and reproduced in the old style one sees in the cinema. But, there are new western style restrooms if you have an urgent need. The products are very high quality and price can be negotiated. If you stay at Sheraton or better hotels they can give you a card with a map to show the taxi driver. Give Culture street a try before you go to the Freindship store. The shops are not heated in the winter so dress accordingly. Bring RMB not foreign currency and don't expect most shops to accept your credit card.