Area: 11,760 km2 (4,540.6 sq mi) (30th)

Population(2008): 11,760,000 (27th)

Major Ethnic Composition:  Han - 97%; Hui - 2%; Manchu - 0.6%

GDP(2008): CNY 635.4 billion (22nd)

Official Website: www.tj.gov.cn/english

Tianjin, referred to as "Jin" for short, is one of the four municipalitiesdirectly under the Central Government of China. Not only is it aninternational harbor and economic center in the north of China,but it is also well-known for its profound historical and culturalheritage.

 It took a long time for the city to come into being. In ancienttimes, sea water receded from what is Tianjin now. For threetimes, the Yellow River, with the highest content of sand in theworld, flowed through this place into the sea, thus formingTianjin Plain. Even today, a few seashell dikes of ancient timescan still be found in such places as Shanggulin in Tianjin.According to research findings, these dikes are the remains ofthe ancient coastal lines.

The name of "Tianjin", meaning "a port for the emperor", was firstadopted in the first year of Yongle Reign in Ming Dynasty. In thesecond year of Yongle Reign (1404), Tianjin became a walledgarrison. In 1860 Tianjin was opened as a trading port. In the1930s, Tianjin became the largest industrial and commercial cityand financial center in the north of China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tianjinbecame a municipality directly under the central government. In1978, with the adoption of the policy to reform and open up tothe outside world, Tianjin became one of the first coastal cities inChina to open up.

In the Outline of the 11th Five-Year Plan for the Development ofNational Economy and Society in the People's Republic of China,which was approved of in 2006, it is pointed out that thedevelopment and opening of Tianjin Binhai New Area is part ofthe overall national development strategy of China. In the future,efforts will be made to build Tianjin into an international harborcity, economic center in the north of China, and an ecologicalcity. This positioning of the city provides Tianjin with a broadstage for Tianjin to seek further development.