The highlight of the concession is this Austrian-style house which was once the residence of General Yuan Shikai.

The Austro-Hungarian Concession was the smallest and the shortest of the foreign concessions in Tientsin, lasting a mere 16 years from 1901 to 1917.  Like the German Concession, it was surrendered to the Chinese just after World War I ended.

Also like their compatriots, the Austro-Hungarians invested their concession with their own distinctive identity, complete with cathedral, domes and residences straight out of the Austrian alps.

The Concession itself is small and has few architecturally significant buildings.  However, as a whole, these buildings present an imposing, imperial vista from across the Pei Ho.  They have been restored – like everywhere else in the old Concession area in Tientsin – and now hold luxury apartments, restaurants and boutiques.

The Austrian Consulate.

The Cathedral

Austrian style residence.

The Concert Hall/Theatre

Close-up of one of the imposing imperial buildings.

View across the river – note the relief of the violinist.

Imposing view from across the water.

The totality of the Austrian Concession taken in…

Back where we started.