Gordon Hall built in 1889. The former Gordon Hall was destroyed in the Tangshan Earthquake (1976). Fortunately, a corner of the original building was preserved.

The former British Concession was established in 1860. Located on the west bank of Hai He River, it was the largest concession in Tianjin, occupied by the Japanese army after 1942, and handed over to the Chinese government in 1945.

Former British Club or British Ball Club built in 1925.

Astor Hotel built in 1863.

It was the political and cultural center of Tianjin, and many of the buildings in this area are now well preserved. About 2,000 houses represent a wide variety of international architectural styles. Fortunately, these historical remains were not destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, due to the efforts of Deng Xiaoping, who, quoting Chairman Mao Zedong, said, “Beijing’s courtyards and Tianijin’s western style buildings are treasures.”

In recent years, the government of Tianjin has made a substantial investment to renovate the famous “Wu Da Dao” area, and the European style buildings have become a tourist attraction.

Many famous expatriates once lived in this area, including Gustav von Detring, Edward Jonah Nathan and Eric Liddell. Liddell was the 400-meter champion in the Paris Olympic Games in 1924. The American Oscar-winning movie
Chariots of Fire is based on his biography.