As one of the ten scenic spots in Tianjin, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street has always adhered to the "Chinese flavor, Tianjin flavor, cultural flavor, and ancient flavor". The existing ancient culture street includes Tianhou Temple and Gongnan and Gongbei Streets, with a total length of 580 meters and a width of 7 meters. Most of the buildings here imitate the small folk buildings of the Qing Dynasty. There are nearly a hundred time-honored brands in the street, mainly selling cultural supplies, old books, folk items, traditional handicrafts, etc. Famous clay figurines such as Zhang Caishu, Wei Kite and Guoren Zhang have all set up special shops here. When you come to Tianjin, you must visit this street!
1. Tianhou Palace
Tianhou Palace was built in 1326 (the third year of Taiding in the Yuan Dynasty). It was originally called Tianfei Palace and commonly known as Empress Palace. After many reconstructions, it is the most beautiful palace in Tianjin. The ancient building complex is also one of the earliest existing Mazu temples in China. The building complex faces east and west, facing the Haihe River. It consists of a mountain gate, an archway, a front hall, a main hall, etc. It is a typical traditional Chinese temple-style building. Every year on the birthday of the Queen of Heaven, a large-scale folk temple worship event is held with the Queen of Heaven as the center. Boat owners along the river and believers from surrounding areas also come one after another. Businessmen from all over the country gather, creating the most famous commercial street in Tianjin - Gongnan Gong North Street (Modern and Ancient Culture street) prosperity.
In the past, boat owners often made models of their boats and presented them to the Queen of Heaven before going to sea, in order to pray for a safe voyage. Old Tianjin people still have the custom of seeking children in Tianhou Palace. This custom is reflected in the traditional cross talk "Tie the Baby". In the past, couples who had no children after marriage would go to Thean Hou Temple to worship and then tie a red thread with a clay doll to go home and worship. It was called the "Big Brother Baby", which was the eldest son. Even if the eldest son was born in the future, he would still be ranked second. The "Big Brother Baby" would be returned every year. Taking it for a "bath" means growing up a little bit every year, which is also one of the folk beliefs in old Tianjin.
Thean Hou Temple is very popular, especially on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, which is the Empress’s birthday. Every year at this time, the "Imperial Meeting" is held, with performances on stilts, dragon lanterns, land boats, lion dances, etc. Hundreds of plays gathered together and it was very lively. Tianhou Palace has now become the Tianjin Folk Museum, introducing the history of Tianjin and displaying various folk customs.
Address: No. 80, Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District, Tianjin
2. Clay Figurine Zhang
This store is very large and is located next to Tianhou Palace. Clay figurine Zhang is a unique attraction in Tianjin, and many tourists visit and buy it.
Tianjin's clay figurine Zhang Cai Sculpture is a traditional folk art deeply loved by the people. It has been passed down and developed for 180 years. Clay figurine Zhang's colorful sculptures elevate the traditional clay figurine to the level of round sculpture art, and are decorated with colors and props to form a unique style.
It is another peak of clay sculpture art in my country after Liu Yuan of the Yuan Dynasty. Its works are exquisite in art and have a far-reaching influence all over the world. They occupy an important position in the history of traditional folk handicrafts in my country.
Address: No. 11, Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District, Tianjin
3. Chinese Shoe Culture Museum
The Chinese Shoe Culture Museum has an exhibition area of ??nearly 1,000 square meters. There are footwear exhibits from ancient times, the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the Republic of China. There are both ancient relics and later imitations. Thousands of years of footwear history can be seen at a glance. The display content is divided into seven parts: the history of shoe development, shoe folklore, folk shoes, three-inch golden lotus, boutique exhibition, shoemaking skills, and scene restoration. It includes more than 60 special topics about shoes and thousands of exhibits.
Each shoe in the museum's "Folk Culture Theme" represents social etiquette and customs in a person's life: birth, growth, marriage, childbirth, birthdays, filial piety and funeral. In the special exhibition of footwear folk customs and exquisite products, there are Ping'an Fu shoes, Dayu stone shoes, spice drawer shoes, Bu Bu Sheng flower shoes, imperial examination cheating shoes, Qing palace dragon boots... all kinds of strange and different shoes make people feel like they are in a "shoes world" world"; in the museum's "Folk Shoes Theme", each pair of shoes reflects the production methods, living customs, religious etiquette, culture, art and aesthetic taste of the Chinese nation.
Visitors can also experience the shoemaking process in person in specific areas.
Address: No. 166, Haihe Building, Ancient Wenhua Street, Nankai District, Tianjin
4. Guifaxiang 18th Street Twist Twist
Guifaxiang 18th Street Twist Twist is a specialty Traditional names. Tianjin's century-old Mahua shop is known as "Tianjin's three wonders" along with Tianjin Goubuli steamed buns and Er'eryan fried cakes. Guifaxiang 18th Street Mahua was recognized as a "Chinese Famous Snack" at the first national famous snack recognition meeting. In 1996, it was named a "Chinese Time-honored Brand" by the Ministry of Domestic Trade of China. It has won the National and Ministerial Excellent Golden Tripod Award and the Asia-Pacific Regional Expo Gold Award. It has been recognized as a well-known trademark in China, a famous brand product in Tianjin and a famous trademark in Tianjin.
Gui Faxiang’s 18th Street Mahua shop was once located at 18th Street, Dagu South Road, so people used to call it 18th Street Mahua. After the reconstruction of 18th Street, a new one was built 200 meters away from the original site. Guifaxiang Dagu South Road Store. In the center of each Guifaxiang twist is a crisp stick with assorted fillings made of sesame seeds, peach kernels, melon seed kernels, green plums, osmanthus, green and red silk and essence water. After the twists are formed, put them into a peanut oil pan and fry them thoroughly over low heat, then add rock sugar cubes and sprinkle with green and red shreds, melon strips and other small ingredients.
Address: No. 117, Gongnan West Street, Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District, Tianjin
5. Kite Wei
Kite Wei has a history of hundreds of years. The first generation is Wei Yuantai. Due to his poor family, Wei Yuantai became an apprentice in a color-making shop at the age of 16. He developed a strong interest in making kites. Wei Yuantai is ingenious and willing to work hard. During his apprenticeship, he encountered someone who challenged him and asked him to make a ten-foot-long kite. With his cleverness, he actually made a ten-foot-long centipede kite. After his four-year apprenticeship, he learned the art of making tie-making, kites and other small toys. His father opened a tie-making shop for him on Dongmenli Street and named it "Changqingzhai". Making kites is a career. In addition to ordinary tying, he also carefully and repeatedly studied and observed the proportions of the bodies and wings of flying animals such as dragonflies, butterflies, eagles, and swallows, as well as their flying movements. Then he studied with concentration and used it in the carving of kites. superior. Every time he makes a kite, he carves it carefully, flies it repeatedly, and improves it step by step. After the second-generation inheritor Wei Shenxing and the third-generation inheritor Wei Yongchang (who was awarded the title of Master of Arts and Crafts by UNESCO), the fourth-generation inheritor Wei Guoqiu is now in charge.
The kites made by Wei Guoqiu were lifelike in shape and won first place in the National Kite Competition in 1982. In 1983, he won the first place in the Tianjin International Kite Festival. In 1993, he participated in the Chinese Folk Art Expo for a craft performance and won the first prize. In 1994, he was selected as one of the outstanding Chinese folk arts. He was also awarded the title of "Folk Arts and Crafts Artist" by UNESCO. Not only can his kites be flown, but they can also be viewed. They are both practical and valuable for collection. His works are both traditional and modern, maintaining the characteristics of multiple shapes, realistic paintings, exquisite stunts, stable flying, high moral integrity and constant innovation. The "Gong and Drum Goose" he made can beat beautiful music in the air. Kite works such as "Flying Eagle", "Dragon Eye Fish", "Crab" and "Songs and Cranes Prolong Years" are his representative works.
The shop is not big, but it is full of kites. Customers can not only buy ready-made kites, but also experience the fun of making kites here. It is very suitable for bringing children~
Address: 4th Floor, New World Department Store, No. 138 Dongma Road, Nankai District, Tianjin
6. Nut Zhang
Nut Zhang is a time-honored Chinese brand, and its nut products have a history of more than 160 years. It is one of the specialties of Tianjin.
Guoren Zhang’s traditional products include amber peanut kernels, amber walnut kernels, tiger skin peanut kernels, clean-flavored peanut kernels, milk-flavored melon seeds and spiced pine nuts. Innovative products include amber cashew kernels, milky almonds, milky, five-spice, cocoa, spicy, seaweed, vanilla, orange, lemon, hawthorn, curry, mint, ginger juice and other peanut kernels, broad beans and green beans. In addition, it also operates the export business of other food and local products.
Nut kernel food has the characteristics of sweet and crispy, delicious, endless aftertaste, and long-term storage. It is famous at home and abroad for its exquisite craftsmanship and unique flavor, and is known as "the best in the food garden".
Address: About 50 meters southeast of the intersection of Tongbei Road and Dahutong, Nankai District, Tianjin