Tianjin

Hugging the sprawl of the Chinese capital on its western flank, Tianjin is often overlooked as just an extension of Beijing. Not so. It's a buzzing metropolis in its own right, laced with interesting homages to European architecture, home to nearly 16 million people, and steeped in enthralling Qing-dynasty history.

The kernel of the city rests along the so-called Five Great Avenues of the downtown Heping core. That's where one is able to wander between high Gothic edifices, Romantic facades, Greek-Revivalist homes, and even Germanic mansions, each showcasing a different moment in the rich 20th-century past of the place. Wedged along with them are the even older recreations of Qing-era homes and courtyards located along Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, where Tianjin tour guides can showcase the gabled Matsu Temple and traditional calligraphy workshops from centuries gone by.

The modern side of Tianjin springs up on the horizon, sprouting steel-clad skyscrapers and apartment blocks by the bucket load. It's also where more cutting-edge attractions like the Tianjin Eye – a 120-meter-high Ferris wheel, and the Tianjin Italian Town – with Tuscan trattorias and Venetian-esque canals outline some of the most affluent neighborhoods this side of Beijing.