The ancient Chinese castle (Ge Da Lou)

　　The ancient Chinese castle is located on Hebei Road in Heping District, Tianjin, and is one of the classic buildings on the Five Avenues. It is also known as “Ge Da Lou.” Originally built in 1937 as an Italian-style Western-style house, it was later renovated with its exterior covered in ceramic tiles, giving it a distinctive look, and has since become a landmark building in Tianjin.

　　The “ge da” (lumps or bumps) of Ge Da Lou refer to the rough texture of the over-fired bricks used on the building’s exterior, which features many small protrusions. Around these bumps, the building’s owner incorporated numerous porcelain pieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties, blending traditional Chinese cultural elements and the style of antique porcelain into the architecture. It looks very unique from the outside and is great for photos.

　　Ge Da Lou was once open as a restaurant but is currently undergoing renovation to be transformed into a museum. The specific opening hours of the museum are not yet known, so for now, visitors can only view the exterior of the building.

　　Address: No. 283–285, Hebei Road, Heping District, Tianjin

　　Type: Museum / Historic Building

　　Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

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　　el: 022-23309930; 022-23398888