Former French Club

Former French Club

The Former French Club is a protected cultural heritage site of Tianjin.

Former French Club

Era: 1931

Address: No. 29, Jiefang North Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Category: Important Modern Historical Site and Representative Building

The Former French Club, also known as the French Ballroom, was established in the 1890s. It relocated in 1911, and in 1931, a new club was built here with funding from the French Municipal Council. The new facility included a bar, small theater, ballroom, billiards room, globe room, lounge, and originally featured an outdoor stage, small plaza, and garden in the backyard—offering comprehensive amenities and serving as the entertainment hub for the French community in Tianjin. In addition, the French Concession authorities located the French Chamber of Commerce here, making the site a gathering place for French businessmen to discuss and conduct business.

The building is bordered by Hejiang Road to the east, Harbin Road to the south, Jiefang North Road to the west, and Binjiang Road to the north. It covers an area of 7,260 square meters, with a construction area of 2,941 square meters. The structure is a brick-concrete building with a semi-basement and one above-ground floor. The main entrance is situated at the street-corner, featuring vertical setbacks that recede floor by floor, with hollow metal decorative doors. Side-mounted lamp posts are installed beside the main entrance. The façade is simple and bright, with some decorative elements. Upon entering through the main door, you reach an octagonal hall with a stained-glass window at the center of the ceiling. It is a simply styled French-style building in good condition.