Five Great Avenues (五大道)
Tree-lined streets with over 2,000 European-style villas — the best-preserved collection of concession-era architecture in China.
Duration
2-3 hours
Cost
Free (horse carriage ¥100/$14)
Hours
24/7
Booking
No booking needed
The Five Great Avenues (五大道) is a neighborhood of five parallel streets — Machang, Dali,睦南, Chongqing, and Changde — lined with over 2,000 European-style villas built in the 1920s and 1930s. It's the best-preserved collection of concession-era architecture in China.
Architecture Styles
The villas represent a stunning variety of European architectural styles:
- English Tudor — Half-timbered facades, steep roofs
- French Romantic — Ornate balconies, mansard roofs
- Italian Renaissance — Symmetrical facades, columns
- German Expressionist — Angular designs, bold colors
Getting Around
On foot — Free, but the area covers 1.28 square kilometers, so wear comfortable shoes.
Horse-drawn carriage — ¥100 ($14) per person, 30-minute tour with guide commentary. Available at the main entrance on Machang Road.
Bike rental — ¥10-20 ($1.40-2.80) per hour. The best way to cover more ground while enjoying the atmosphere.
Notable Buildings
- Former residence of Cao Kun (曹锟旧居) — A grand English-style mansion
- Tianjin Foreign Studies University — Beautiful campus with colonial-era buildings
- Ju Yuan (睦南道117号) — One of the most photographed villas
Getting There
- Metro Line 1 to 营口道 station, 10-minute walk
- Or Metro Line 3 to 和平路 station
Practical tips
- Rent a bike or take a horse-drawn carriage for the full experience. The area is best in autumn when the trees turn golden.