A personal relationship with Tianjin that continues to grow

Water is very much part of both Tianjin's geography and history. Most of the city is flat, occupying vast tracts of formerly water-borne alluvium deposited over many hundreds, indeed thousands of years. Water adds beauty to the city, not least along the banks of the Haihe River, but also with some of its long-standing popular parks. Close to Nankai University is Shuishang, the vast water park created in 1951 and covering 126.71 hectares. It emerged from an area long known for its lush vegetation and natural ecosystems. I first visited it in 2004, on a hot summer day when thousands of people gathered there to cool off. Its three large lakes are dotted with 11 islands. Then many visitors were boating however when I last returned it was on a cold, blue sky day during the recent holiday. Despite the freezing conditions local residents had gathered to exercise while others played musical instruments within its pavilions and traditional long corridors. It retained the friendliness I have found not just in its parks but through much of the city, one which is still very welcoming to foreigners.