A street trading on a vibrant past

The charm of the Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street lies in its every corner, from the shops and their wares, to the historical architecture and intangible cultural heritage. But Zhang Yu gives yet another tip that might provide visitors with a unique Tianjin experience — talk to the shop owners when you have the chance.

"A feature of the cultural street is that most shop owners are present in their shops every day, many having spent two or three decades here. You can learn a lot by talking to them, and they are more than willing to chat with visitors," he says.

"We enjoy talking with others. It doesn't matter whether the customers buy anything, and indeed visitors to the cultural street don't necessarily need to buy anything. What matters, I believe, is to see Tianjin's old streets and feel the distinctive personalities of the natives."