Porcelain House

Introducing Porcelain House (from CITS)
If you like Watts Towers in Los Angeles, then you will like the Porcelain House in Tianjin. This house is so different from anything else that it should be on everyone's list who visits Tianjin.The Porcelain House, also known as “China House”, is a private museum. The building itself was built 100 years ago and made in the French style. In 2002, the porcelain collector Zhang Lianzhi spent 1 million RMB (about 125,000 USD) buying the house. Then in the following four years, he devoted most of his time to refurnish it with hundreds of thousands of porcelain pieces dating from Tang (AD 618-907) to Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It is calculated that more than 4,000 pieces of ancient porcelain, 400 pieces of jade stone carving, 20 tons of crystal and agate and million pieces of ancient Chinese ceramic chips were used, costing approximately over 2 billion RMB. Based on the understanding of antique porcelain and traditional Chinese culture, Zhang Lianzhi mixed up fragments from different pieces. About 80 percent of the porcelain used in the house is broken or damaged antiques. But the flaw of these pieces had been carefully concealed when being pasted on the wall. In such way the damaged porcelain is given a new life.

Porcelain House Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Ci Fang Zi 瓷房子
• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1-2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, Porcelain
• Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
• Entrance Fee: CNY 35
• Address: No. 72 Chifeng Road, Heping District, Tianjin

What to expect at Porcelain House
Elements of Chinese culture can be seen at every turn of the house, for example, four dragons entwining the exterior wall of the building, auspiciously symbolize the power in ancient China and is one of the dominant features in ancient Chinese architecture. On the exterior, the house is classed with whole vases and porcelain pieces. The interior of the house is lined with porcelain mosaics and there is plenty of old furniture on display. There are 3 floors that you can visit with beautiful balconies on the 2nd floor and a nice chandelier on the top floor. The vases and artful mosaics and the colorful stones that augment the decorations make this a wonderful place to visit.

How to get to Porcelain House
• Take Metro Line 2 to Heping Road Station.
• Take bus 9, 37, 91, 92, 93, 185, 611, 629, 826, 827, 828, 830, 831, 837, 838, or 851 to Central Park Station.
• Take bus 1, 4, 9, 35, 50, 611, 619, 650, 693, 808, 831, 838, 845, 851, 860, 901, 902, 904, 951 or 962 to Shandong Road Station.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Tianjin to Porcelain House.

Additional travel advice on Porcelain House
• The Treasure of the Museum, a large sculpture relic of Budda head, is displayed in the side room at the exit of the house. It is not allowed to take photos in this room.
• Nearby attractions: Tianjin Central Park, Central Square Park, Italian Style Street, etc.