Tianjin is a large city in northern coastal China. Administratively it is a municipality that has provincial-level status, reporting directly to the central government. Its urban area is the third largest in China, ranked only after Shanghai and Beijing. Tianjin's urban area is located along the Haihe River.

The opening of the Grand Canal of China during the Sui Dynasty prompted the development of Tianjin into a trading center. Until 1404, Tianjin was called "Zhigu", or "Straight Port". In that year, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty renamed the city Tianjin, literally "Heavenly Ford", to indicate that the Emperor (son of heaven) forded the river at that place. This is because he had indeed forded the river at Tianjin while on a campaign to wrest the throne from his nephew. A fort was established at Tianjin, known as "Tianjin Wei", meaning "Fort Tianjin".

Tianjin has several famous snack items. "Go Believe" is a traditional brand of baozi (steamed buns with filling) that is famous throughout China. "Guifaxiang" is a traditional brand of mahua (twisted dough sticks). "Erduoyan" is a traditional brand of fried rice cakes. Tianjin is a respected home base of Beijing opera, one of the most prestigious forms of Chinese opera.