Tianjin

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Tianjin (天津; pinyin: tian jin, Postal System Pinyin: Tientsin) is a harbour municipality in China on the Hai He River (from Beijing) and Bohai Gulf of the Yellow Sea (Pacific Ocean). The placename literally means "the Heavenly Port".

Tianjin is one of four independent municipalities in the People's Republic of China with provincial-level status. Historically, the city was, for a time, the capital of Hebei Province.

History
The city was first settled in 1404 AD during Ming Dynasty as a fort, named Tianjin Wei (Fort Tianjin).

Tianjin County was established in 1731.

The city was opened to foreign trade in June 1858, at the end of the first part of the Second Opium War, when the Treaties of Tianjin were signed.

It has been municipality in 1927, except from 1958 to 1967, when it was reduced to a provincial city and capital of Hebei.

Geography
Tianjin is at the northern end of the Grand Canal of China, which connects with the Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers. Tianjin borders Hebei province, the municipality of Beijing and the Bohai Gulf of the Yellow Sea.

Economy
The GDP per capita was ¥20443 (ca. US$2470) in 2003, ranked no. 56 among 659 Chinese cities.

Political divisions
Tianjin is divided into fifteen districts and three counties The six districts close to the "urban region" ( Shì Qu) are
Heping District (Hèpíng Qu)
Hexi District (Héxi Qu)
Hebei District (Hébei Qu)
Nankai District (Nánkai Qu)
Hedong District (Hédong Qu)
Hongqiao District (Hongqiáo Qu)

The outer districts and counties:The "Seaside region" ( Bin Hai Qu):
Tanggu District (Tánggu Qu)
Hangu District (Hàngu Qu)
Dagang District (Dàgang Qu)

The "region around city" (Huán Chéng Qu) are:
Jinnan District (Jinnán Qu)
Dongli District (Donglí Qu)
Xiqing District (Xiqing Qu)
Baodi District (Baodi Qu, Baodi County before 2001)
Beichen District (Beichén Qu)
Wuqing District (Wuqing Qu, Wuqing County before 2000)

The counties:
Ji County (Jì Xiàn)
Jinghai County (Jìnghai Xiàn)
Ninghe County (Nínghé Xiàn)