Transportation in Tianjin

(I) Passenger Car
Q1  How do foreign nationals in Tianjin apply for a motor vehicle driving license for the first time?
Learn to drive a motor vehicle in a driving school.
Documents Required:
1. Proof of applicants’ identification;
Foreign nationals’ proofs of identification in China refer to the passport held upon entry or other travel documents, a valid visa for residence (stay) permit valid for three months or more, a stay or residence permit, or a filled Registration Form of Temporary Residence for Visitors issued by the public security organs;
Proofs of identification of staff members of foreign embassies, consulates, and representative offices of international organizations in China refer to valid identity documents issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China;
Proofs of identification of a foreign national who applies for a motor vehicle driving license of the People’s Republic of China refer to the person’s People’s Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.
2. Proof of physical condition.
3. More than four recently taken one-inch color bareheaded photos with white background.
Procedures:
Foreign nationals applying for the driving license shall study at a qualified driving school with the documents mentioned above, register and take exams and tests in a branch of the Vehicle Management Office of Tianjin Traffic Management Bureau. The motor vehicle driving license will be issued to the applicant who has finished all the relevant training lessons and passed all the driving exams and tests, accepted the warning education of traffic accident cases and learned the knowledge about traffic safety and civilized driving, and be a quali fied and disciplined driver.
Office Address:
East Branch: Northside of No. 3 Bridge, Jin-tang Expressway, Dongli District, Tianjin, China.
South Branch: Intersection of Jintang Highway and Erba Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin, China.
West Branch: Jingwu Town, Jinlai Highway, Xiqing District, Tianjin, China.
North Branch: 11 Beichen Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, China.
Binhai New District Branch: 56 Fourth Street, Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China.
Working Hours:
East, South, West, and North Branches of the Vehicle Management Office of Tianjin Traffic Management Bureau: 8:30-17:00, Monday-Friday.
Binhai New Area Branch of Vehicle Management Office of Tianjin Traffic Management Bureau: 8:30-16:30, Monday-Friday.
Tel.: 022-12123

Q2  Is it obliged to take the driving-related exams and tests for people who hold foreign driving licenses when applying for a motor vehicle driving license of the People’s Republic of China?
Foreign nationals holding overseas driving licenses should apply for China’s driving licenses with China’s Foreign Resident ID Card to the vehicle management office in the place where the ID card is issued, or apply with a valid visa or stay permit to the public security organ that issues the proofs of temporary residence for the applicant.
Foreign nationals who hold overseas driving licenses and work in foreign embassies, consulates, and representative offices of international organizations in China should apply for China’s driving license to the vehicle management office in the place where the embassies, consulates, and international organizations are located.
In addition, foreign nationals who apply for China’s motor vehicle driving licenses with a foreign driving license shall take specified exams in accordance with relevant provisions. Foreign nationals who apply for China’s motor vehicle driving license with a foreign driving license shall take the exam of traffic safety laws, regulations, and relevant knowledge (also called the “subject 1”); those who apply with a foreign driving license for China’s motor vehicle driving license for large bus, motor tractor, midibus, and large truck shall take the test for driving skills, traffic safety and civilized driving knowledge (also called the “subject 3”); staff members of foreign embassies, consulates, and representative offices of international organizations in China apply for China’s driving license shall implement in accordance with the principle of diplomatic reciprocity. All applicants with a foreign driving license shall finish the exams and tests within three years after the vehicle management office accepts the application. If there are agreements China signs with other countries related to applying for a driving license, it should be implemented in accordance with the agreement.
Office Address: Vehicle Management Office of Tianjin Traffic Management Bureau (the Intersection of Zhenli Road and Jingjiang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, China)
Tel.: 022-12123

Q3  Can foreign nationals in Tianjin register with the ETC system online?
Foreign nationals cannot register with the ETC system online temporarily since their passports and residence permits are different in forms from resident ID cards in mainland China. Foreign nationals can register with the ETC system in one of the business outlets of the Bank of China or China Construction Bank. Consult the above-mentioned banks about the requirements of the registration. Tel.: 4007554007.

(II) Public Transport
Q4  What is the official website of the integrated service platform for traffic safety of Tianjin Traffic Management Bureau?
Website: http://tj.122.gov.cn
Tel.: 022-12345

Q5  How do foreign nationals buy rail-way tickets through the “12306” online platform?

Q6  What are the common online ride-hailing platforms?
AutoNavi, T3 GO, CAO CAO, and Meituan Taxi.

Q7  Which public transport lines can be taken to go to Tianjin Binhai International Airport?
Bus: Special line No.4
Metro: Binhai International Airport Station, Tianjin Rail Transit Line 2

Q8  What are the main routes for Tianjin international cruises?
The routes for Tianjin international cruises will be adjusted every year, mainly based on the operation plan made by the cruise companies. The international cruises departing from Tianjin International Cruise Home Port mainly operate the routes between China, Japan, and South Korea; major terminals are Inchon and Cheju in South Korea, and ports in Kyushu areas in Japan including Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Sasebo; the voyage last five nights and six days. Meanwhile, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port cooperates with cruise companies and travel agencies every year to create several special routes, such as routes around South Pacific Rim, Russian Far East, China Seas, and so on. Influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, international cruise routes are temporarily suspended at present.

Q9  How to take the Tianjin Metro?
Single ticket, preferential metro ticket, day–ride–er, and City T–union can be purchased at a ticket vending machine or customer service center; smart payment should be realized by binding a bank card or Alipay account through Tianjin Metro APP after registration. (See operated lines of Tianjin Metro in the appendix.)

Q10  Does Tianjin implement the traffic restrictions based on the last digit of a car plate?
Every working day from 7:00 to 19:00, except the working Saturdays and Sundays adjusted for official holidays, the traffic restrictions are implemented for the cars with Tianjin license or other cities’ on the roads inside the outer-ring Road (exclusive). Please consult the latest traffic restriction announcement for details.

Source: Foreigners Living In Tianjin Know Everything