Italian Style Street

Italian Style Street

Italian Style Street is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Italian Style Street is an important part of the Italian-Austrian Style Area, a renowned historical and architectural preservation district in Tianjin.

Many films such as *City of Life and Death* and *Sophie's Revenge* have also been shot here.

1. The Origin of Italian Style Street:

In the early 20th century, Tianjin was home to concessions established by eight foreign powers. Foreigners built numerous European-style buildings here for their offices and residences. A century later, if you stroll along the Haihe River in Tianjin today, you can still see these diverse architectural styles. In 1900, following the failure of the Boxer Rebellion, the weakened Qing government and representatives of 11 nations signed the humiliating Boxer Protocol. Italy took this opportunity to secure the right to establish a concession in Tianjin. The Italian concession was located between the current Beian Bridge and Tianjin Railway Station, behind Yuanyang Building (our company’s office location). Over 100 years ago, this area was a salt field. In 1902, Italy appointed a Marine Corps lieutenant named Filete as the project manager in charge of planning and constructing the Italian concession. Thanks to this opportunity, an ordinary Italian was forever etched into Tianjin’s history. True to their heritage as descendants of the Roman Empire, Italians showcased their finest architectural traditions even in a foreign land. During the construction of the concession, they developed a comprehensive road network and public utilities centered around Marco Polo Square. Buildings were primarily designed as Italian garden villas, and strict regulations ensured that no two street-front buildings were identical. In late 1998, as part of the comprehensive development of the Haihe River, the Italian Style Area was launched. Leveraging the area’s unique historical and cultural resources, the project aimed to create a vibrant district embodying rich Italian character, integrating tourism, commerce, leisure, entertainment, and cultural exhibitions. The development is now nearing completion, and a brand-new scenic area will soon be unveiled to the world.

2. Iconic Architecture: 1) Marco Polo Square: Filete’s ingenuity lay in naming the square after Marco Polo, a historical figure connecting China and Italy, rather than using the name of an invader like other countries did. The central square of the concession was thus named “Marco Polo Square,” a name that has endured to this day. In contrast, other streets with foreign-sounding names have long been renamed to reflect our own identity—the land’s true owners are always the Chinese. The surrounding villas feature Italian-style turrets, including round and square pavilions, with cylindrical and square columns adorned with round arches, flat arches, pointed arches, continuous arches, and hanging columns. These turrets, varying in height, create a beautiful architectural space and are the only remaining authentic Mediterranean-style building complex in Asia. These turrets were historically used for “oil-lighting” during festivals to recreate the grandeur of ancient Roman temples. 2) Bocce Club: Not far from Marco Polo Square stands a grand tower-like structure, once a venue for sports competitions that secretly served as a gambling den—the largest casino in Tianjin. Foreigners called it the “Bocce Club,” while locals dubbed it the “Ruigong Furnace” because countless people lost their fortunes here. In the 1930s, when Japan occupied Tianjin, many Italian expatriates were imprisoned here without food for days. Local residents secretly smuggled food in when Japanese soldiers weren’t looking. One can only imagine what those once-arrogant foreigners thought of the Chinese people at the time. 3) Italian Barracks: Tianjin once hosted concessions from eight nations and garrisons from nine. The heart of the mighty Qing Empire was under constant surveillance—how could unrest be avoided? The Italian Barracks are the best-preserved foreign barracks in Tianjin. The ground floor housed public facilities, while the upper levels were soldier dormitories. At its peak, the Italian garrison had 999 officers and soldiers. Later, the barracks were used by Japanese, American, and other forces.

The "Luo" Square—this name has been retained to this day, while other street names with foreign flavor have long since been unceremoniously changed to ones of our own. The masters of this land will always be the Chinese. The villas around the square mostly feature Italian-style corner pavilions, which come in garden and square types, with round and square columns, adorned respectively with round arches, flat arches, pointed arches, continuous arches, and hanging columns. These corner pavilions vary in height, creating a beautiful architectural space—it is the only remaining authentic Mediterranean architectural complex in Asia. These corner pavilions were used during festivals to be "oiled and lit," recreating the splendor of ancient Roman temples.

3. Former Residences of Celebrities: Due to the Italian concession’s beautiful environment, complete facilities, and rich cultural atmosphere, it attracted many cultural figures. Nearly all influential Chinese personalities of the early 20th century had ties to Tianjin.

Figure 1: Liang Qichao, Advocate of the Hundred Days’ Reform: After the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform in 1898, Liang Qichao fled to Japan. Following the Xinhai Revolution, he returned to China. In 1912, he purchased land and commissioned Italian architect Pirolo to design his residence, later adding a study called the “Ice-Drinking Studio.” Liang wrote influential works such as *Research Methods in Chinese History* and *An Outline of Qing Dynasty Scholarship*, living here for 15 years until his death.

Figure 2: The Short-Lived Emperor—Yuan Shikai: Known for training the New Army at Xiaozhan in Tianjin, Yuan’s career soared after the Xinhai Revolution, making him the first president of the Republic of China. However, unsatisfied with the presidency, he sought to become emperor—an act seen as out of touch with the times, leading to his infamy. His Tianjin residence had unique features: a “hiding place” and an “escape route.” The hiding place was a small door on the right side of the second floor, leading to a reinforced concrete staircase with iron railings, connecting to the attic and basement. Closing the door concealed the access. The escape route was an iron staircase from the third-floor pavilion, leading directly to the back garden and exit. Additionally, an octagonal room was designed between the second and third floors, with windows facing the Haihe River—symbolizing endless wealth flowing into the Yuan family. Today, the site is a restaurant called “Shoufu Restaurant.”

Basement. If you close the small door, you won’t be able to find the way up or down. The “escape route” is an iron staircase located in the pavilion on the third floor, leading directly to the back garden gate, through which one could escape. In addition, between the second and third floors of this building, there is also a specially designed...

octagonal room, with several windows facing the Haihe River. No matter whether the tide is rising or falling, the river water seems to flow into the octagonal building, symbolizing countless streams of wealth flowing into the Yuan family. Now, this place has become a restaurant called the "Headquarters Restaurant."

Figure 3: Zhang Mingqi, Executioner of the Revolution: As Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi during the Qing Dynasty, Zhang suppressed the Guangzhou Uprising led by Huang Xing, orchestrating the deaths of the 72 Martyrs of Huanghuagang. After the Xinhai Revolution, he supported Yuan Shikai’s bid for emperor. When the Japanese invaded, he openly defected, earning the scornful nickname “a refugee under foreign protection,” evading justice. Yet, he wasn’t entirely villainous—records show that as Guangxi’s governor, he implemented reforms, trained the New Army, built railways, developed mining, promoted education, introduced agricultural technologies, and founded the Guangxi Bank. His residence, an Italian-style villa near Marco Polo Square, reflects his complex legacy. If suppressing revolution was loyalty to his beliefs, surrendering to Japan remains a damning stain. He died in 1945, as Imperial Japan collapsed—perhaps realizing that while one might evade human retribution, divine justice is inescapable.

Figure 4: Wu Yulin, Minister of Communications: A top student at the Beiyang Naval Academy, Wu studied in Germany, becoming an expert in shipbuilding and machinery. Returning to China, he served as a Navy Department official and later Minister of Communications, contributing to naval reforms. After the direct-line faction’s fall, he retired to Tianjin, first living in this house before selling it to Tang Yulin, chairman of Rehe Province. He refused Japanese pressure to collaborate during WWII, preserving his integrity but died in 1944, missing victory. Wu also contributed to Tianjin and his hometown, organizing relief efforts during the 1939 floods. His Italian-style Renaissance Baroque residence on Jianguo Road, with granite walls and grand halls, remains a distinguished landmark.

Figure 5: Liu Ran Gong, National Hero: Founder of the *New Tianjin Daily*, Liu was outraged by Japan’s September 18th Incident in 1931, using his newspaper to advocate resistance. After Tianjin’s fall, the paper’s final issue bid farewell to the people, refusing Japanese manipulation. Tortured to death by Japanese agents, his last words echoed: “I… loyal to the nation… died… leaving a… glorious legacy…” His former residence, a connected two-story Italian villa, is also the only intact site of the historic *New Tianjin Daily*.

Resisting Japan and saving the nation. After Tianjin fell, the *New Tianjin Newspaper* issued an extra to bid farewell to the people of Tianjin, refusing to be used by the Japanese. He was tortured to death by Japanese secret agents. Before his death, he still uttered the line from an opera: “I… am loyal to the country… I… die… leaving behind… a… good… name… in history…” Liu Ran’s former residence is a two-story connected Italian-style building and is also the only well-preserved site in the city of the former offices of the renowned modern Tianjin newspaper *New Tianjin Newspaper*.

…fall… leave behind… a… good… name… in history…”

Beyond these celebrity homes, the area also hosted residences of playwright Cao Yu, calligrapher Hua Shikui, education official Lu Muzhai, Premier Duan Qirui, Japanese ambassador Zhang Zongxiang, Bank of China president Li Shiwei, and over 30 other notable figures from modern Chinese history. However, original addresses have vanished, and tracing these homes requires more effort—perhaps the fully restored Italian Style Street will one day showcase the legacy of these influential figures.

Lu Mujai, the Education Commissioner of Zhili

Duan Qirui, Premier of the State Council

Zhang Zongxiang, Ambassador to Japan

Li Shiwei, President of the Bank of China, and the former residences of more than 30 other notable figures in modern Chinese history. But now, the old street numbers are nowhere to be found. Tracing these figures’ residences on my own is beyond my capability. Perhaps once the Italian-style Street is fully completed...

…everyone will be able to catch a glimpse of the figures who once influenced China.

Suggested Duration

1-2 hours

Transportation

Direct buses include routes 5, 8, 27, 634, 638, 638 Interval, 639, 645, 645 Interval, 663, 672, 676, 802, 806, 806 Interval, 832, 836, 905, and 961.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

All day

Address: No. 39 Guangfu Road, Hebei District

Phone: 24466555