Former Site of the Italian Barracks

Former Site of the Italian Barracks

This ancient Roman-style building is located in a very unassuming alley and is not easy to find. However, it is one of the largest structures in the former Italian Concession and the only surviving foreign barracks among the nine-nation military barracks in Tianjin. It is also the only well-preserved example of this type of architecture in the country. It is said that Puyi once came to the barracks for an "inspection" during his time in Tianjin, and a photo of the visit can be seen in the exhibition room at Jingyuan.

Built in 1925, the barracks feature a spacious drill ground and two tall three-story buildings with sloping roofs forming a right angle. Each floor has a corridor over three meters wide. The architecture is grand and distinctive, and remains well-preserved to this day, though it also exudes an air of eerie peculiarity. Visitors stopping here may have mixed feelings. A wide-angle lens is recommended for photography.

Time Needed

30 minutes – 1 hour

Transportation

Take bus No. 24, 824, 858, 97, 951, 50, 650, 666, 689, 808, 186, 5, 8, 634, 638, 645, 672, 832, 961, 27, 663, or 802 and get off at Jianguo Road Station, or walk about 5 minutes north from the Italian Style Street to reach the site.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

All day

Location

No. 20 Guangming Road, Hebei District, Tianjin

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Tianjin Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units