Haihe River Tianjin near Astor Hotel. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]
The city also prospered as northern China's leading salt producer and distributer. It's geographical location was one factor during the later 19th and early 20th century growth of international concession areas. Although that foreign presence is now long gone, much of the architecture remains creating a growing asset for both domestic and international tourism.