Old villas and bold designs define historic cityscape

When it comes to cities made for slow, leisurely strolls, Tianjin always makes the list.

All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes. Follow the streets at your own pace, and around every corner, you'll find century-old mansions.

"Ten yuan ($1.5), 10 yuan to Italy!" As soon as I arrived in downtown Tianjin, I couldn't believe my ears when I heard a pedal-cart driver shouting that.

Yep, 10 yuan would take me to the Italian Style Area, the former Italian concession.

As one of China's early treaty ports, Tianjin was forced to open up in 1860, allowing foreign nations to establish concessions.

China's victory in World War I and World War II helped to gradually reclaim the concessions. By 1945, all foreign concessions in Tianjin had returned to full Chinese administration.

Italian Style Area is a well-preserved architectural complex designed entirely by Italian architects. There are 137 Italian-style villas. The heart of the neighborhood is Marco Polo Square, laid out in concentric circles.

Every building around the square is unique and no two look exactly the same. Scattered piazzas, delicate corner gardens, and clever arcade designs — every detail hides 100 years of architectural ingenuity.

On top of its century-old history, the Italian Style Area now perfectly blends old and new.

Hidden in the streets is the wildly popular bookstore Zhongshuge. Its ultra-modern design features layered staircases and mirrored ceilings, creating a high-end, light-filled space that young people love for photos.

Even Starbucks here stands out, with a theme of intangible cultural heritage that breaks the usual store design, blending Tianjin's local folk traditions into the decor. Details of Yangliuqing New Year paintings and Niren Zhang clay figurines can be spotted.

In the early 20th century, Tianjin was home to many prominent Chinese political, cultural, and military figures: Liang Qichao (1873-1929), a reformist thinker; playwright Cao Yu (1910-96); artist Li Shutong (1880-1942); and warlord Yuan Shikai (1859-1916). Their former residences are scattered among the streets. Each villa is a witness to modern Chinese history.

Leaving the Italian area, I strolled along old streets and arrived at the highlight of Tianjin's city walk: Wudadao.

This was once the British concession, and it's the best-preserved, largest collection of Western-style mansions in the city.

The area consists of five main roads, with a large number of Western-style buildings tucked into the crisscrossing lanes.

These elegant old villas, with their green bricks, red tiles and ivy-covered walls, may look peaceful, but every brick and tile holds a story.