🏛️ 5A National Attractions
Last verified 22 Jul 2025
Shanghai may have futuristic towers, but Tianjin keeps its 5A list tight and classic: just two national-class scenic areas—one packed into the old downtown grid, the other stretched across forested peaks 120 km to the north.
1 Quick Metrics
Total 5A sites
2
Official list
UNESCO share
0 (neither site is on the World-Heritage list)
World heritage sites
Ticket range
Free roaming (Ancient Culture St.) → ¥115 peak (Panshan + round-trip cable)
Entry fees
Real-name booking
Only Panshan gate still scans ID on holidays; Ancient Culture Street walk-in
Booking requirements
Subway reach
1 / 2 within Metro Line 2 loop; Panshan needs 40 min bus from Jizhou South HSR
Public transport access
2 Why It Matters
Street-level time-machine — Ancient Culture Street (津门故里) drops a 600 m Ming-Qing arcade beside the Haihe, splicing Tianhou Palace (1326 CE) temples and clay-figurine shops into one photogenic stroll.
Frontier feng-shui — Panshan's five granite peaks and 860 m Guayue summit earned Qianlong's praise: "If I'd known Panshan earlier, I wouldn't have headed south." Cable cars skim pine ridges over centuries-old hillside temples.
3 Pro Tips
1
Ancient Culture Street – Best crowd-free window 07:00 – 09:00; buy 1-day canal boat combo (¥50) for Haihe night lights.
2
Temple access – Tianhou Palace ticket ¥10 sold at side gate; climb bell-tower for roof-tile pano.
3
Panshan transport – HSR Beijing → Jizhou South (34 min) then bus 11 to Scenic Gate (¥6); holiday buses every 10 min.
4
Cable-car hack – Ride down only (¥45) after 2-hour stone-step ascent—legs saved, views doubled.
5
Storm risk – Mountain closes if wind > 15 m/s; check "盘山景区" WeChat 06:30 update.
4 Full 5A List
🏛️
Nankai, old city
Tianjin Ancient Culture Street Tourist Area (Guwenhua Jie) / 天津古文化街旅游区（津门故里）
600 m Ming-Qing arcade; Yangliuqing New-Year prints, clay-figurine Zhang workshop; free entry 24 h; Metro L2 "鼓楼" 350 m.
🏔️
Jizhou (northern suburbs)
Panshan Mountain Scenic Area / 天津盘山风景名胜区
Granite peaks (Guayue 860 m), 5 temple clusters, pine-ink cliff views; ¥80 gate + ¥70 RT cable (peak); ID scan on major holidays.