Tianjin

Tianjin, roughly an hour by train southeast of Beijing, is the face China strives to present to the rest of the world: a progressive, high-tech manufacturing center and foreign investment magnet. The city already boasts a presence from more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and is Beijing’s test-bed for financial reforms and free-market policies.

Tianjin is also Beijing’s proving ground for China’s first Eco-City, a blueprint for the country’s future urbanization. Slated for completion by 2020, Tianjin Eco-City’s pedestrian-friendly layout will house 350,000 residents in water and energy efficient buildings, served by carbon-smart transport systems.  More prosaically, Tianjin was the 2012 meeting place of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, underscoring its growing international importance. The city is also vying for a leadership role in cloud computing; its Binhai New Area is establishing a cloud-computing park, backed by its resident supercomputer: the Tianhe A1 (formerly the world’s fastest supercomputer).

Putting business aside, this city is famed for its passion for snacking. Tianjin is a city of foodies at heart and it would be remiss of you not to sample some of China’s favorite munchies during your stay here. Try the sumptuous Goubuli Baozi (steamed bun, with a filling), Maobuwen Jiaozi (tasty steamed dumplings), and Erduoyan (mouth-watering fried rice cakes). To sample Tianjin’s full complement of appetizers, head for its widely famed Nanshi Food Street.

Dining out locally is a real treat in Tianjin. If you are in the mood for a banquet, it is worth seeking out the city’s long, covered alleyway of Shipin Jie ("Food Street"), which boasts more than 50 different restaurants jostling for business. Here you’ll find anything from soup to snake on the menu. The less adventurous should make for Fukang Lu, where you’ll find TGI Friday's and other western chains offering the usual burgers, steaks, pasta, chicken and seafood.

The thriving foreign community in Tianjin is in part made up by the overspill from neighboring Beijing. The city’s carapace of European architecture juxtaposed with bold modern glass Chinese monoliths is indicative of its residents: Chinese and foreigners rubbing shoulders, comfortably co-existing in very separate worlds.