text:
Thuringia

Thuringia (German: Thüringen) is one of the least known German states amongst foreign travellers but enjoys a good reputation with local holidaymakers. A predominantly mountainous and forested region, Thuringia is also known for a quartet of beautiful ancient cities and the Wartburg Castle - a UNESCO world heritage site and erstwhile refuge of Martin Luther that is regarded by Germans as one of the most important castles in the country. Thuringia's boundaries are Bavaria (specifically Franconia) to the south, Hesse to the west, Lower Saxony to the northwest, Saxony-Anhalt to the north and Saxony to the east. The border with Franconia, Hesse and Lower Saxony used to be the "inner-German" border and you can sometimes still see traces of that. Of particular note is the tiny village of Mödlareuth, nicknamed "little Berlin" by American soldiers as it was divided between Cold War Europe's East and West.

Cities
As is evident from a glance at the map, the main Thuringian towns, including the capital, are mostly laid out along a pretty straight line from West to East.
 * — state capital with medieval old town, biggest city and main travel hub
 * — home of Wartburg castle where Martin Luther translated the Bible into German; Johann Sebastian Bach's birthplace
 * — once an important regional industrial centre, still retaining architectural monuments to its former glory
 * – erstwhile capital of an independent principality, early centre of natural sciences
 * — Thuringia's main university city, site of research and optical goods industries, and temporary home to Goethe and Schiller, too
 * — temporary home of Johann Sebastian Bach, John A. Roebling (builder of the Brooklyn Bridge) and of Thomas Müntzer, leader of the peasants' revolution
 * – on the southern slopes of the Harz mountains, famous for its Doppelkorn schnapps
 * — site of Germany's largest folk music festival
 * — former seat of what is now the British royal family
 * — a centre of toy making and location of the German toy museum
 * — chief town of the Thuringian Forest skiing and hiking region
 * — town of Goethe and Schiller, site of the 1919 constitutional convention and birthplace of the Bauhaus movement, which was the most influential artistic and architectural movement of the early 20th century.

Other destinations

 * The Hainich Forest - Germany's thirteenth national park with its magnificent tree-top walk
 * The Thuringian Forest - national park and winter sport centre
 * The Buchenwald Forest - Infamous site of one of the largest Nazi concentration camps

Understand
Thuringia as an entity has existed only since 1920. Before that it was a patchwork of small and miniature duchies, margraviates and other petty territories in ever shifting alliance. Both of its "big power" neighbors, Saxony and Brandenburg/Prussia at various times controlled several pieces of what is now Thuringia and in fact many of the reigning houses were branch lines of the reigning house of Saxony and consequently named Saxe-something. This situation, that is fittingly described by the German term Kleinstaaterei was severely impending progress and made life for the people of the time harder, as they had to cross several borders in a day's march and the rulers could force them to change religion along with them (cuius regio eius religio). On the other hand, it is serendipitous for today's visitors, as one of the ways rulers tried to one-up one another was by investing in palaces, residences and culture. The theater in Weimar and in fact the presence of Goethe (who was born in Frankfurt) and Schiller (who hailed from Württemberg) is due mostly to the search for prestige of the rulers of Saxe-Weimar and both got high paying government sinecure jobs that left them free to pursue their various interests, including literature.

Several of Thuringia's most important cities, including Erfurt, the largest and state capital, lie in a pretty straight east-west line with much of the rest of Thuringia nearly bereft of anything larger than small towns.

Tourist information

 * Thuringia tourism website

Talk
The most common language in Thuringia is German with its slight regional accent. English proficiency has traditionally been lower than in the west, but is slowly getting better, especially among younger people. While East German education put a focus on Russian, there's no real predominant second foreign language these days, as none really presents itself for geographic reasons.

By plane
There are airports in this part of the country, but the biggest of them, Erfurt - Weimar, sees almost only flights to and from Mediterranean holiday destinations. Unless you have money to burn or own a private airplane, chances are you will be arriving at one of the major international airports out of state and then taking the train or bus or rent a car from there. Depending on where in Thuringia you are aiming for, Leipzig/Halle Airport ; Nuremberg Airport and Frankfurt Airport  are relatively close and well connected internationally. An ICE train will get you from Frankfurt airport to Erfurt main station in roughly 2½ hours (2020), but travel times are planned to become shorter soon. Erfurt is also a stop on the new ICE Sprinter line between Munich and Berlin, which cuts journey times between Munich and Berlin below 4 hours. It may make sense to get rail and fly. For more on that issue see rail air alliances

By train
Thuringia is surprisingly well connected on the railway network and thanks to the quirky nature of German federalism the new Berlin-Munich high speed mainline has passed through Erfurt since 2017, thus making a wide variety of connections in all cardinal directions available. Erfurt main station is a hub for both "regular" ICEs from Frankfurt eastward and between Munich and Berlin and for the Sprinter (an ICE with only limited stops) from Frankfurt to Berlin and from Berlin to Munich. For some smaller towns connections are not as good and you might find yourself in a bus after all if you do not own a car. The southern part of the state, around Sonneberg, is culturally Franconian and has better train services to Nuremberg and Erlangen than to Erfurt.

By bus
Long distance bus travel in Germany is a relatively new phenomenon as it was legalized only at the beginning of the 2010s and thus the market is still evolving. There are however a number of routes already available and prices routinely beat all other modes of transport, especially when booked well in advance. Comfort and speed of travel tend to be lacking, though.

By car
The A4 crosses the middle of the state east-west providing access from Dresden and Gießen. The A9 runs north-south, roughly parallel to the Saale river on its west, bisecting Jena and Gera and providing quick access to Leipzig and Berlin to the north and Bayreuth, Nuremberg and Munich to the south.

By train
Public transport is for the most part good, fast and reliable. If you plan to do a day trip the "Thüringen-Ticket" might just be what you are looking for. It costs €23 for one person plus €4 for each additional person up to five and covers all regional trains in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony plus public transport in Erfurt, Gera, Weimar, Jena, also Halle Dresden and Leipzig. Validity is from 09:00 on working days (all day on weekends) until 03:00 the following morning.

Bicycles are transported free of charge in any local trains and some other public transport within Thuringia (though not in some neighboring states, so watch out in trains, which cross).

See
For literature, history and theater buffs, Weimar is certainly a must visit, as it was the place where Johan Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, two of the most famous authors writing in German, met and had their most prolific writing phase. Furthermore, the "Weimar Republic" was named for the town, because its constitution was written in Weimar's national theater (Berlin being embroiled in out and out revolution and political violence at the time).

Other towns in Thuringia are also not to be missed and some, like for example Erfurt, the capital, have superb old towns.

The Wartburg Castle near Eisenach is well worth a visit as an excellent castle with good condition interior rooms, as well as the connection to Martin Luther, who spent a year here under the assumed name "Junker Jörg" hiding from his enemies and translating the Bible. The Wartburg was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000.

Do
One of the main activities visitors engage in is hiking through the Thüringer Wald. Other than that the various theaters (most notably that in Weimar) are still in use as such and if you speak German, it can be the highlight of your trip to see Goethe played "like it was meant to be seen". Even if you don't speak German or struggle with the language the sound of the words can be impressive.

Eat
Thuringia is home and origin to the renowned (at least in Germany) Thüringer Klöße (dumplings) as well as Thüringer Rostbratwürste (or Roster for short), a type of Bratwurst. While they are available almost anywhere in Germany, as is often said, the best fare stays stateside.

Drink
Nordhausen is or at least was the liquor capital of Germany. If you pass by Thuringia without visiting once you are either a teetotaler or underage (legal drinking age is 16 for beer and wine 18 for spirits, just so you know)

Stay safe
The state of Thuringia is generally safe. While there is a legal requirement for high ranking police officers to speak English, and English is now required in school for everybody, you might still meet police that don't speak English. That being said, police are usually helpful and fair, if a bit strict at times. Sadly, as elsewhere in Germany, racial profiling does occur, especially on trains or near stations, so if you look "foreign" be prepared to show ID more often than white people. Violent crime is rare and almost unheard of, though pickpocketing and the like does occur in crowds. Try to stay well clear of political rallies where right-wing forces and Antifa collide, as violence by either side or the police does occur during those events.

Go next
As this is more or less smack dab in the middle of Germany, the options to go from here are next to limitless.
 * Franconia with its wine and beer culture, picturesque churches and pristine mountains is just a short hop away from Sonneberg, a town some consider to be basically Franconia already
 * Saxony is right next door and included in your "Thüringen-Ticket" for the regional trains
 * If you haven't flown in from Frankfurt already, Hesse is also worth a visit
 * Saxony-Anhalt is another lesser-known German federal state right next to Thuringia its regional trains are also included in your "Thüringen-Ticket"

title: Thuringia


text:
Thuringowa

Thuringowa is a suburban region in the west of Townsville, Central Queensland.

Local Weather
Thuringowa lies in the wet-dry tropics of North Queensland, which are characterized by hot and rainy summers (wet season) and warm and dry winters (dry season). However, to the area of the city known as the Paluma Range, is characterized by a year-round relatively cool and moist climate, due to being in the Wet Tropics of Queensland and is also a World Heritage area.

Schooling
Thuringowa has both private and public schools with all Primary schools having Prep classrooms on the grounds.

Get in
Thuringowa is serviced by many major arterial routes as well as numerous state routes. The Northern Beaches district is serviced by the A1 (Bruce Highway) or the National Highway 1.

Urban Thuringowa is part of the A1 route, as the Thuringowa Ring Road (known as The Ring Road) will become the new National Highway route through the city. The first stage, the 5.3 km Douglas Arterial Road, opened to traffic in April 2005.

By plane
Thuringowa is serviced by the nearby Townsville International Airport.

By bus
Public transport in Thuringowa consists of bus services run by Sunbus. Sunbus provides services for most parts of the city with runs from the Thuringowa CBD to most suburbs and thought-out Townsville, plus special services for the football nights at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Tony Ireland Stadium at Riverway and any major events at Black River Stadium, for bus times and runs please visit the Sunbus website timetable or Phone: +61 7 4725 8482. Detours is another bus service that can take care of your charter or tour needs.

By Taxi
Taxis operate 24 hours and service all parts of Thuringowa.

See

 * Village Boulevard is the name of the Road into Pioneer Park and forms the city/park integration. from the car park it extends through the park as a pedestrian spine that follows the rivers edge and forms the heart of Pioneer Park.
 * Tony Ireland Stadium is the Second stage of Riverway, and consists of an international standard AFL and Cricket stadium, capable of holding 10'000+ people, and was first used to host the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash cricket match on the 31st of December 2007.
 * Riverway Arts Centre is a geographical formation with a grass roof that is incorporating the parkland without a decrease in the amount of grassed area. It also lowers the interior temperature by reducing the roof surface temperature.
 * The Rollingstone Community Hall holds a fish BBQ on the first Sunday of each month at 5pm.
 * the Fisherman`s Landing Kiosk is a licensed cafe and can supply you with ice, bait and groceries, Plus there is accommodation at any of the following, the Balgal Beach Holiday Units, Balgal Bed & Breakfast Retreat, the Thuringowa city Council`s two tent camping and vehicle camping areas.
 * Rollingstone Park(51km north of Thuringowa Central) is a camping area that is popular due to the freshwater creek swimming area next to the park. Community markets are held on the first Saturday of each month, April to September from 8am. Rollingstone also has a Museum, Caravan Resort and shop.
 * Paluma is a township of around 25 permanent residents in the Mount Spec ranges of Thuringowa's heritage listed Wet Tropics.
 * Piper`s Lookout on Hervey Range lets you view over the land below Hervey Range and all the way out to sea. While you in the area you can check out the Hervey`s Range Heritage Tea Rooms here they serve refreshments and offer all the info about the local history.
 * Dairy Farmers Stadium is located in the suburb of Kirwan, and was constructed in 1995 with a seating capacity of 30,000 after it was announced that the Twin Cities would be home to an Australian Rugby League team. The stadium is today the home ground for the North Queensland Cowboys. The stadium was previously known as Stockland Stadium and Malanda Stadium.
 * Greenwood Park Sporting Complex was officially opened on February 15, 2007. It features 8 fully lit Touch Football fields as well as carparking and a fully licenced clubhouse which is home to Redskins Touch Club and Thuringowa Touch Association.
 * The Willows Golf Club is an international-standard golf course with a 72-hectare (180-acre) golf wildlife sanctuary and also home to the Queensland Masters. The area is also home to a residential estate.
 * Thuringowa also has a 1/4 mile drag strip, sealed go-cart track, motocross training track, fishing farm, rodeo and a gun club. The speedway was closed due to a housing estate but there are talks of a new complex being built.
 * Ocean Palms Resort is right on the beach. One of the most popular attractions here is the barramundi feeding.

Beaches and other water attractions

 * Bushland Beach is Thuringowa`s most popular residential beachside community (approximately 19km from Thuringowa Central). At low tide you can walk to a wooden shipwreck and some fantastic ponds that are full of marine life that the whole family can enjoy. There is a boat ramp for public use at the beach plus BBQs and kids playgrounds, Bushland Beach also has a hotel, resort and a small shopping center.
 * Saunders Beach is a sandy beach which stretches for kilometers, Saunders beach is one of Thuringowa's more popular beaches but you can often have this beach to yourself due to the long length. there is also a boat ramp.
 * Toolakea Beach is a quiet beach, ideal for birdwatchers and fishing or a quiet day on sand. This area has a picnic area as well as public toilets.
 * Toomulla Beach is somewhat of an isolated beach, but boasts and a great free camping area, picnic area, public toilets and a boat ramp for public use. This is also another great area for bird watching.
 * Balgal Beach is a small community 53km north of Thuringowa Central (located a few minutes from Rollingstone) and is the perfect day or overnight destination for locals and tourists that visit Thuringowa and Townsville. Balgal Beach features clean, white sand, a stinger net that is patrolled from November to May for safe swimming. A boat ramp is available to allow easy access to Palm Islands area. Apart from the beach the wide creek mouth is a great fishing location. Other activities in here include the ANZAC memorial,a picnic and BBQ at the park, bird watching, golf and lawn bowls at Mystic Sands Golf & Country Club.
 * Riverway is a riverfront parkland attraction located in the Thuringowa CBD that opened in July 2006. The area is a cultural hub opening up the rivers habitat for residents and tourists, the main attractions are the public art gallery, cultural centre, swimming lagoons and cafe. Riverway runs for 11km of the Ross River, with areas at Pioneer Park, Loam Island, Apex Park and Ross Park at the Ross River Dam where the community, visitors and tourists can enjoy all sorts of activities from sport, swimming, entertainment, dining and shopping in one of Queensland’s most spectacular river settings.
 * Lake Ross (at the end of Riverway Drive) is part of the Ross River Dam and stores over 215,000 mega liters of water, water is held by an earth rock embankment 8.35 kilometers in length and 27 metres in height (the longest in the southern hemisphere) and occupies a catchment area of 750km2 with a concrete spillway that flows into the Ross River, Visitors can view the dam from a viewing platform at Ross park. Lake Ross is a Wetland of National Significance. The shallow areas of the lake provide a habitat for a large number of water birds, Over 220 species of bird have been recorded around the lake area. You can book a tour of the lake by contacting NQ River and Road Tours or phone 4788 9600. Ross Park is located in front of the dam wall and has picnic and toilet facilities. The Bird Observers Club holds bird-watching walks on the 3rd Sunday of each month, for more info please call 4778 1945
 * Ross River - Thuringowa`s riverway centerpiece, with a large range of sporting and leisure activities. The Riverwalk is a pathway that overlooks Ross River. Loam Island and Pioneer Park are part of the Riverway development and provide locals and visitors with entertainment such as, Skiing and wakeboarding plus some good fishing spots. Other areas along Ross River are Apex Park and Ross Park.
 * Big Crystal Creek is part of Paluma Range National Park (approximately 65km from Thuringowa Central). It features large deep swimming holes that are very popular with locals and visitors. The picnic areas, BBQ's, camping, and toilets are wheelchair accessible. Free bookings for the campsite can be made or by phoning Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on 13 13 04.
 * Little Crystal Creek(60km from Thuringowa Central) is one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists where you can swim in the crystal clear water, have a picnic or BBQ and there are toilet facilities here with wheelchair access.
 * Bluewater is a fresh water attraction (approximately 28km north of Thuringowa Central) that is very popular for picnic's and family fun, the area includes BBQ`s, play equipment, toilets and showers. The best place to access the creek is near the bridge at the Bluewater Store or Bluewater Park. Bluewater Park has a limited free tent and vehicle camping area . There is also an urban forest located next to Bluewater Park this is a fitness trail around 800m long with 8 activity's along a pathway. There is also a boat ramp available near Bluewater Drive.
 * Bluewater is a fresh water attraction (approximately 28km north of Thuringowa Central) that is very popular for picnic's and family fun, the area includes BBQ`s, play equipment, toilets and showers. The best place to access the creek is near the bridge at the Bluewater Store or Bluewater Park. Bluewater Park has a limited free tent and vehicle camping area . There is also an urban forest located next to Bluewater Park this is a fitness trail around 800m long with 8 activity's along a pathway. There is also a boat ramp available near Bluewater Drive.

Tour Operators

 * North Queensland River and Road Tours
 * Pop Sullivan Tours
 * Tropical Tours
 * David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along Tours

Buy

 * Willows Shoppingtown
 * Parkside Plaza
 * MountView Plaza
 * Sunland Plaza
 * Canon Park City Centre
 * Centro Deeragun (Woodlands)
 * Upper Ross Shopping Centre

Restaurants

 * Cactus Jacks Bar and Grill
 * Fasta Pasta
 * Hog's Breath Cafe
 * Giardini Pizza and Pasta Bar
 * La Cucina Pizza and Pasta House
 * Joy Thai Restaurant
 * Tom Yum Thai Restaurant
 * Ocean Palms Bistro
 * Brothers Leagues Club
 * Hobbo's Hut (opened 2007 in the old BJ's night club on Thuringowa Drv)
 * Chinese Tea House
 * Nanking Restaurant

Fast Food Restaurants

 * Eagle Boys Pizza
 * Mount View Cafe and Takeaway
 * Richshaw Chinese Takeaway and Noodle bar

Sleep

 * Jollymosh Retreat House
 * Lake Paluma Camp & Picnic Ground
 * Ocean Palms Resort
 * Paluma Environmental Education Centre
 * Paluma Misthaven Units
 * Paluma Rainforest Cottages
 * Paluma Dreaming
 * Rainforest Inn
 * Range Caravan Park
 * Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort
 * Rollingstone Hotel
 * Saunders Beach Ocean View Units
 * Ocean Palms Resort
 * Paluma Environmental Education Centre
 * Paluma Misthaven Units
 * Paluma Rainforest Cottages
 * Paluma Dreaming
 * Rainforest Inn
 * Range Caravan Park
 * Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort
 * Rollingstone Hotel
 * Saunders Beach Ocean View Units

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Thuringowa


text:
Thurles

Thurles is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, with a population in 8200. In Irish it's Durlas Éile, "strong fort of the Éile", a tribe or small kingdom that reached its zenith in the 5th century AD. No stronghold remains, and the main reason to visit is Holy Cross Abbey 6 km southwest.

Understand
By the 19th century, people had more leisure time, disposable income and transport. Various ball games were played, but the rules were haphazard (could you pick up the ball, or not? Grab your opponent by the throat, or not?) and some games were little better than mass brawls between entire villages. Soccer and rugby then became codified and developed sporting structures, but Gaelic football and hurling were slow off the mark — they remained strong in Tipperary and Limerick but were losing support elsewhere. Only in 1887 was the Gaelic Athletic Association founded, at Hayes Hotel in Thurles.

From the outset the GAA wrapped itself in the Irish flag, making out that rival games were unpatriotic, the "garrison games" of the British oppressor. That was a cockamamie version of history: English gentry had long supported Gaelic games, because watching their Irish tenantry knock lumps out of each other was something they could enjoy all day, while placing wagers on the outcome. GAA Rule 27 banned members from taking part in or watching non-Gaelic games: in 1938 they even expelled the President of Ireland for watching an Ireland v Poland soccer match. But as usual the British had exacerbated the hostility. On "Bloody Sunday" in 1920 a police and Black and Tan paramilitary force came to Croke Park in Dublin at the start of a Gaelic football match and began shooting into the crowd: 14 were killed and 60-70 injured. Not until 2001 did GAA abolish Rule 21, which banned members of the British forces, and Rule 42 still stands: that GAA grounds may not be used for competing sports. (A waiver allowed Ireland to play a rugby international at Croke Park in 2007.) Where the GAA has succeeded, beyond the dreams of rugby's Corinthian contingent, is in keeping the game amateur and local. Even the "big names" of the sport are hardly known beyond Ireland, and you are never going to walk down a street in Istanbul or Kuala Lumpur and see the young men all got up in Corofin GAC jerseys.

Get in
Trains run every couple of hours from Dublin Heuston via Kildare, Portlaoise, Ballybrophy and Templemore, taking 75 min to Thurles. They continue south via Limerick Junction (for Tipperary, and change for Limerick), Mallow and Cork. is 500 m west of town centre.

Long-distances buses scoot past on the motorway and don't stop in Thurles. The X8 from Dublin to Cork stops in Cashel 22 km south, but with few onward buses to Thurles.

Local Link Bus 391 ambles through the lanes from Limerick three times a day, via Castletroy (for the University), Newport, Kilcommon Cross and Ballycahill.

Kavanagh Bus 393 / 396 runs three times M-Sa from Clonmel via Fethard, Ballinulty and Gortnahoo to Thurles.

Bus 394 runs twice M-Sa from Clonmel via Cashel and Holycross (for the abbey) to Thurles.

Bus 397 runs once M-Sa from Nenagh around 11AM, taking an hour to Thurles and setting off back around 4PM.

Local Link Bus 858 runs twice M-Sa from Portlaoise via Abbeyleix, Durrow, Johnstown and Urlingford, taking 90 min to Thurles. Another two services only run between Portlaoise and Durrow.

Bus 812 runs twice M-Sa between Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles and Urlingford.

M8 passes 5 km east of town, so Dublin and Cork are within a 90-min drive, and Limerick is less than an hour.

Get around
The town is compact but you need wheels to reach Holycross and other outlying places.

See

 * Liberty Square is the centre of town, with well-preserved 19th-century low-rise buidings. Pity about the traffic.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.
 * is a scenic village 10 km north of Thurles. It's more correctly "Loughmoe" or Luach Maigh. The main sight is the ruined castle, a 13th-century tower house, seat of the Purcells. In the village graveyard is a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers, publicly hanged in 1858 for the murder of a cruel land agent; they protested their innocence to the last. In 1910 their bodies were exhumed from Nenagh jail and brought in grand procession to be reburied here.

Do

 * The Leisure Centre on Cathedral St has pool, gym and fitness classes.
 * The Source Arts Centre on Cathedral St has music, comedy, shows and art exhibitions. It's open Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 2-5PM.
 * Angling for trout and salmon along the River Suir.
 * Horse riding can be arranged at several stables. The nearest is Tipperary Equestrian Centre on Mill Rd 1 km southeast of town.
 * hosts games of Hurling and Gaelic Football for Tipperary GAA and for Munster, and has hosted music events. With a capacity of 45,690, as a GAA venue it's second in size only to Croke Park in Dublin.
 * is a peak of 478 m (1570 ft) west of Templemore, and roughly equidistant from Roscrea, Thurles and Nenagh. It's usually climbed on its south side from the car park on R501. The legend goes that the devil took a bite out of it, broke his teeth, and spat out the lump which landed as the Rock of Cashel. The tower near the summit is a 19th-century Folly. The large cross on the summit was erected in 1953/54.
 * Féile Music Festival, which ran 1990-97 as "The Trip to Tipp", was revived in Sep 2019. There are no plans to stage it in 2021.
 * is a peak of 478 m (1570 ft) west of Templemore, and roughly equidistant from Roscrea, Thurles and Nenagh. It's usually climbed on its south side from the car park on R501. The legend goes that the devil took a bite out of it, broke his teeth, and spat out the lump which landed as the Rock of Cashel. The tower near the summit is a 19th-century Folly. The large cross on the summit was erected in 1953/54.
 * Féile Music Festival, which ran 1990-97 as "The Trip to Tipp", was revived in Sep 2019. There are no plans to stage it in 2021.
 * Féile Music Festival, which ran 1990-97 as "The Trip to Tipp", was revived in Sep 2019. There are no plans to stage it in 2021.

Buy

 * The shopping centre is on the main road 500 m south of Liberty Square.
 * Lidl is just west of the railway, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
 * The Farmers Market is Saturday 9:30AM-1PM outside the greyhound track.

Eat
There's a slew of cheap eating places in Liberty Square and adjoining streets. No jokes please about horsemeat from inept runners at the races, they've heard them all before.

Drink

 * The withering of the traditional pub scene has culled many in Thurles, but there's plenty left. Around the centre are The County, Q11 Bar, Skehan's, Millea's, Arch Bar, Brennan's, Coppingers, Denis Corbett and Noel Ryan's.
 * West of centre find Tom Dunne's, Bowes and Mackey's; south are Larry's and Glasheens. It might be a very quiet pint in some of these.
 * A little string east of the river has De Búrca’s, Hickey's, The Coachyard, Monks (aka O'Gorman's) and Kennedy's.
 * Thurles doesn't have a brewery or distillery.

Connect
As of July 2021, Thurles has 5G with Eir, and 4G with Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Cashel to the south is a must-see for the Rock and nearby religious sites.
 * Waterford has a rich Viking, medieval and Georgian heritage on display in its museums.
 * Cork is a great destination for its range of sights and amenities.

title: Thurles


text:
Thurso

Thurso is a town in Caithness on the far north coast of Scotland, with a population of 7390 in 2020. The name probably refers to the deity Thor, and this area was Norse until the 13th century. The present town was laid out on a grid pattern in the 19th century when the railway arrived; its population boomed in the 1950s when Dounreay nuclear power plant was established 9 miles west. It's long been a fishing port, and its harbour at Scrabster is a route to the Orkney Islands: many visitors are just passing through to catch a ferry. The main reasons to stay here are for sea-sports especially surfing, and to explore the rugged scenic coastline.

Get in
By plane: Wick John o'Groats Airport has flights from Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

By train: Four trains M-Sa run north from Inverness via Dingwall, Tain, Golspie (for Dunrobin Castle), Brora, Helmsdale and Georgemas Junction (for Halkirk) to Thurso, taking four hours. There's only one on Sunday. The train then returns south through Georgemas Junction and branches off to Wick, another 30 min. The southbound trains from Wick likewise double back via Thurso. It is advisable to book tickets in advance as carriages are often full.

is 200 yards south of town centre. The ticket office is staffed M-Sa, no machines, and waiting room and toilets only in office hours. There is step-free access to both platforms.

By bus: Stagecoach Highlands X99 runs M-Sa at 2:15PM, £23 (as of Sep 2022) from Inverness via Tain, Dornoch, Brora, Helmsdale and Wick to Thurso (4 hours) and Scrabster.

By boat: NorthLink Ferries car ferries sail between, two miles from Thurso, and Stromness on Orkney. They sail 2-3 times per day, taking 90 min and passing close to the Old Man of Hoy. Stromness has buses to Kirkwall and elsewhere on the Orkney mainland.

See John o'Groats for the ferries to Burwick, and those between Gills Land and St Margaret's Hope.

By road: the A9 from Inverness crosses Kessock Bridge and Black Isle, running north via Tain, Dornoch, Brora, Helmsdale and Latheron to Thurso and Scrabster. It's 110 miles (180 km) of undivided highway, reckon three hours. The historic A9 used to continue along the coast from Latheron via Wick to John o'Groats, but that's nowadays A99.

Get around
Bus 82 takes 55 min from Wick via Halkirk to Thurso, hourly M-F, every two hours Sa, only four on Sunday. You can also use the X99 or train to reach Wick.

Bus 80 runs M-Sa every couple of hours from Thurso via Dunnet, Mey and Gills Land (for Orkney ferry) to John o'Groats (one hour), which also has Bus 77 from Wick.

Bus 73 / 74 runs three times a day along the main road to Dounreay, Reay village (for Forss) and Bettyhill.

Bus 803 runs from Durness on Saturday, via Melness, Tongue and Dounreay (2 hr 30 min). A couple of other buses ply mid-week between Thurso and Tongue.

Taxis are Highland Cabs (+44 1847 555555), Caithness Cabs (+44 1847 895677), Ormelie (+44 1847 893434), Meiklejohn (+44 1847 892827) and Pentland Cabs (+44 1847 895474).

Car hire: nothing in town, but Hertz are at Wick Airport.

Town centre

 * The river mouth and harbour in summer is a good place to watch for seals, otter, sea birds, boats and sunsets. In winter look for the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) - summers here are never dark enough.
 * St Peter's and St Andrew's is the replacement church on Princes St completed in 1832, in Gothic style.
 * Meadow Well is a cute little "house" on Manson's Lane just off Traill St the main road. It was completed in 1823 and housed the well which for centuries was the town's main water supply. It remained in occasional use after 1876 when Loch Calder became the main supply.
 * Bishop's Palace or Scrabster Castle on the coast west of the caravan site is maybe from the 14th century. It's well-ruined, with just a few earthworks and courses of masonry.
 * is the ruin of a Gothic pseudo-castle built in 1872, over the site of 12th- and 17th-century predecessors. It was partly demolished in 1952, although the 3rd Viscount Thurso (b 1953) somehow inhabits what's left. Harold's Tower a mile east is their family mausoleum.
 * is the ruin of a Gothic pseudo-castle built in 1872, over the site of 12th- and 17th-century predecessors. It was partly demolished in 1952, although the 3rd Viscount Thurso (b 1953) somehow inhabits what's left. Harold's Tower a mile east is their family mausoleum.

Further east and south

 * has a sandy beach. Castletown Heritage Centre is a small museum open W Sa Su 2-4PM.
 * See John o'Groats (and continue on A836 east) for Dunnet Head the mostly northerly point on the British mainland, Castle of Mey former home of the Queen Mother, and Gills Land for the ferry to St Margaret's Hope on Orkney. You can give tourist-trappy John o'Groats itself a miss.
 * is the ruin of a 14th century tower house. The same name is given to the adjacent 19th-century Baronial mansion / hotel, nowadays apartments.
 * (or Dorrery, south, 244 m) and Beinn Freiceadain (north, 239 m) are twin hills by Loch Shurrery. Their slopes are dotted with megaliths and prehistoric cairns, the most prominent being Oscar's Grave, a chambered cairn on the north hill. A track leads to a radio mast on the south hill.

Further west

 * is a broch, a fortified dwelling. The name is Norse, Thing-vollr a local assembly place (like Dingwall or Iceland's Þingvellir), but brochs are typically many centuries older than the Vikings.
 * is a tumbledown 16th century tower house, unsafe to enter. (The cattle and the ghostly lady don't heed this, or each other.) An old cemetery lies on the Ness beyond.
 * at Crosskirk is 12th century. It's free to explore any time, reach it via the lane from Forss. Only a memorial cairn marks the large Iron Age broch adjacent - the cliff became eroded and unsafe, so after excavation the site was demolished in 1972.
 * is the 42-m white sphere away to the west, the covering for a nuclear reactor. These were built in such a remote spot because this was an experimental facility, both for civilian fast reactor designs (to replace the inefficient Magnox) and for navy submarine nuclear engines. Dounreay did supply electricity to the National Grid, but was never intended to be a mainstream power station. All the reactors have closed down but decommissioning will take at least until 2033, so a large workforce remains. They don't offer tours, try Torness near Dunbar or Hunterston near West Kilbride. Dounreay Castle is the ruin of a 16th century turret within the site perimeter, so it's off-limits until decommissioning is complete.
 * are a pair of Neolithic burial cairns which have never been excavated. They're free to explore any time. "Cnoc Freiceadain" means "lookout hill" and there are several, such as the one south next to Ben Dorray, but Satnav will try to drag you away west to the mountain of that name near Tongue.
 * Sandyside Bay is a sandy beach just north of Reay Golf Club near Dounreay.
 * is a scenic gully on the coast 8 miles west of town. The approach footpath starts from the Sutherland-Caithness county boundary on A9.
 * is a scenic gully on the coast 8 miles west of town. The approach footpath starts from the Sutherland-Caithness county boundary on A9.

Do

 * Walk onto Holborn Head, the peninsula just north of Scrabster, for great sea views. Clett Rock just below the north edge is a sea-stack swirling with birds. Dunnet Head is seen to the east and cloud-wreathed Hoy to the northeast.
 * Surf: the bay in front of town gets 3 m waves, often hollow, surfable on all tides but best when incoming. You'll need a thick wetsuit.
 * Golf: Thurso GC is 1½ miles southwest on B874. Reay GC is five miles west at Dounreay.
 * Thurso Leisure Centre has a gym, fitness classes and swimming pool. It's on Millbank Rd on the east riverbank, open M-F 7:30AM-12:30PM, 2-8PM, Sa Su 10AM-1:30PM.
 * Merlin Cinema on B874 Ormlie Rd shows mainstream relases.
 * Rugby: Caithness RFC scuffle away in the lower amateur leagues. Caithness Sevens is a local 7-a-side league playing throughout winter, not a one-day tournament like better-known Sevens. The playing fields are next to the Leisure Centre.
 * Halkirk Highland Games are held in that village on the last Saturday in July, with the next on Sa 27 July 2024.

Buy

 * Lidl is on Castlegreen Rd opposite the caravan site, open M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM.
 * Co-op Food is on Meadow Lane by the corner of Traill St, open daily 7AM-10PM.
 * Tesco is on Millbank Rd east of the bridge, by Park Hotel and the Leisure Centre. It's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-8PM.
 * Reid's of Thurso make excellent oatcakes, shortbread and cakes.
 * Caithness Summer Fruits based in Halkirk sell berries, jam and marmalade.
 * Caithness Summer Fruits based in Halkirk sell berries, jam and marmalade.

Eat

 * There's a cluster of eateries where the A9 makes a zigzag through town (Traill St and Olrig St), and on Princes St one block west.

Drink

 * Town pubs are Grove Lounge, Inn at Y-Not (has rooms), Top Joe's and Mr C's.

Sleep

 * Premier Inn is a reliable chain hotel next to the railway station.
 * Muthu Royal Hotel is in town centre on Traill St, the zigzag in A9.
 * Holborn Hotel is on Princes St next to Sandra's Backpackers.
 * Weigh Inn is at the junction of A9 and A836 west edge of town.
 * Park Hotel is east of the river by the Leisure Centre and Tesco.
 * Holborn Hotel is on Princes St next to Sandra's Backpackers.
 * Weigh Inn is at the junction of A9 and A836 west edge of town.
 * Park Hotel is east of the river by the Leisure Centre and Tesco.
 * Weigh Inn is at the junction of A9 and A836 west edge of town.
 * Park Hotel is east of the river by the Leisure Centre and Tesco.
 * Park Hotel is east of the river by the Leisure Centre and Tesco.

Connect
As of July 2022, Thurso and its approach roads have 4G from EE, and a basic mobile signal from Three and Vodafone; nothing from O2. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * The Orkney Islands lie north, with a choice of three ferry routes: Scrabster—Stromness is best for sights and public transport across Orkney Mainland. From Kirkwall the main town you can take an overnight ferry to Lerwick on Shetland, or return south to Aberdeen.
 * West on A836 follows the wild north coast to Cape Wrath, Durness and Kinlochbervie.
 * Or return south via Wick towards Inverness.
 * North Coast 500 is a 500-mile circuit of the coast passing though Thurso.

title: Thurso


text:
Thy National Park

Thy National Park is in the western part of North Jutland in Denmark.

Understand
Thy National Park was established in 2008, the first national park in Denmark proper. (The first in the kingdom was created in Greenland in 1974.) The park covers an area of 244 km² of land at the western coast of Northern Jutland between Aggertange and Hanstholm.

Landscape
The coastal part of the park consists of dunes, dune heaths, dune plantations and lakes. The inland part of the park mainly consists of farmland.

title: Thy National Park


text:
Tianguá

Tianguá is a city of 76,000 people (2019) in Ceará in Northeast Brazil.

Understand
The local economy revolves around agriculture. As in most of the Serra da Ibiapaba, it is very common to plant sugar cane, sweet potato, cashew, strawberry, tomato, pepper, and other fruits and vegetables.

Get in
Tianguá is about halfway between Teresina and Fortaleza. You might pass through here on your way to Ubajara.

See

 * Parroquia de Sant'ana Cathedral: Inaugurated in 1882.
 * São José Seminar Convent: 1st Seminary in the region. Composed of a mansion, a chapel and an immense green forest . Quiet and silent place, with beautiful gardens and internal patios. Building with architectural structure and stone facade. It was built by the Franciscans in the first half of the 20th century, having long functioned as a boarding school for boys.
 * Jaburu Dam: the dam forms a small beach, used by the population for leisure on weekends, receiving hundreds of people from the most different and distant cities in the region. The place offers an excellent option for the practice of sport fishing, with varied species of exotic fish, especially the tucunaretinga . It is 20 km from the city's headquarters, access via the BR-222.
 * Santa Rosa Spa (dam): rock formation, with an entrance like a cave. It has a small waterfall, suitable for bathing.
 * Cabeça da Nega: rock formation, in which you can find water holes, a lookout from which you can see the city of Viçosa do Ceará. Presence of mills, flour houses and a small chapel, where novenas are held. It is 12 km from the seat of the municipality.
 * Cachoeira Cana Verde Waterfall: a waterfall that drops off at a height of 30 m, sheltering a gazebo, providing a complete view of the hinterland. It is 16 km from the municipality, with access via the BR-222.
 * Cachoeira São Gonçalo - Sete Quedas: waterfalls meet, due to the formation of stops, where the path of the water mixes with the fauna and flora. They are 3 km from the city's headquarters, access is via the CE-187.
 * Cascade: a waterfall that falls into a natural pool, where it is dammed. It is halfway up the Ibiapaba mountain range. Access is via the BR-222.
 * Casarão do Sítio Cajueiro - in Cajueiro, about 9 km from the city of Tianguá. Considered the oldest architectural heritage of Tianguá, it was built in 1880.
 * Monument to the Risen Christ: 16-meter statue on top of Chapada da Ibiapaba, on top of Morro da Resurreição, stretch between the Pavão and Morro do Sombrinho stops, on the way up the mountain, and can be viewed from all over the hinterland from the foot of the mountain. The statue is one of the largest artificial works in the north of Ceará, has a support base of 4x4 m, with a base height of 1.60 m, an altitude of 600 m above sea level and a distance of 6 km via BR 222.

Do
Events
 * Paredões do Janeiro: There are corridors originating from rock formations, home to waterfalls and natural spouts. A scene of indescribable beauty. It is 5 km from the seat of the municipality.
 * Cachoeira da Floresta Ecological Reserve: Private reserve, with exuberant nature, highlighting the various waterfalls. It has six trails and a "catch-don't-pay". Bathing is allowed. Rappel and zipline activities can be practiced. There are 250 hectares of preserved area (owned by the Serra Grande hotel). It is 12 km from the seat of the municipality. Access in part by BR-222.
 * Cachoeira da Mangabeira Trail: at the lookout called "Espelho da Vida", as it has an overview of the mountain range. Access from the lookout to the waterfall is difficult, as it passes between two very narrow walls. There are two waterfalls, with rainforest and humid vegetation. The fauna is quite rich, with wild cats, capuchin monkeys, canaries, and bem-te-vis. It is 5 km from the seat of the municipality.
 * Marinema de Baixo Waterfall Trail: there are two trails, a lighter one, suitable for tourists of all ages, and a heavier one, with rope descent. During the course of the trail, you can find waterfalls, encounters of rivers and centenary trees (babaçu, etc.)
 * Espia Trail: on the slope of the Serra, characterized by rock formations. It has a waterfall that falls between two stone walls, called "Rocha da Rosa". The trail is 1 km long and 70% of it is flat. In the waterfall on the trail, the water is not a perennial river ; there is a turnout from October to July. It is 5 km from the seat of the municipality.
 * Trail of Transhumance: path that connects the mountains to the hinterland, made of stones and used by the first settlers. The trail houses the Pinga waterfall. Along the way you can find several mills and stills . It is 9 km from the headquarters.
 * Pinga Trail: has waterfalls that resemble steps. The vegetation is wet forest. The trail is like a kind of funnel. It is 5 km from the seat of the municipality. Access on a side road in good condition.

Events
The main cultural events in Tianguá are:
 * Festivities of Senhora Santana (Jul 16 to 26)
 * Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct 4)
 * City anniversary (Jul 31)
 * Carnival (February/March)
 * Festival of Quadrilhas Juninas do Nordeste Festival of squares (June/July)
 * Passion of Christ (March/April)

title: Tianguá


text:
Tianjin

Tianjin (天津 Tiānjīn) is a major city in North China that neighbours the capital city of Beijing. In 2020, it was home to almost 14 million people. Tianjin is divided into the old city and the Binhai New Area. Binhai New Area is growing fast, with many international companies establishing branch offices. It is a base of China's advanced industry, financial reform, and innovation.

Understand
Tianjin is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. Tianjin borders Hebei Province and Beijing Municipality, bounded to the east by the Bohai Gulf portion of the Yellow Sea.

In terms of urban population, it is the sixth-largest city of the People's Republic of China. Tianjin's urban area is located along the Hai River, which connects to the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers via the Grand Canal in Tianjin. Tianjin was once home to foreign concessions in the late Qing Dynasty and early Kuomintang era.

Tianjin's climate is similar to, though slightly warmer than, its neighbour Beijing. Overall it can be described as continental; winters are cold and dry, as nights below −10 °C are not uncommon, and summers are hot and humid, with days reaching above the upper 30s °C not out of the question. The best time to visit is autumn, though if you do not mind dust storms, spring would also be an excellent choice.

History
Tianjin has been trading port since historic times and used to be called "Zhigu" (直沽), or "Straight Port". In 1404, the Yongle Emperor renamed the city Tianjin, meaning "the Heavenly Ford", to indicate that the Emperor forded the river at that point.

Due to its proximity to Beijing, Tianjin was involved significantly during the Opium Wars. Many concession areas in the city were run by the European powers as well as the United States and Japan, leaving many foreign architectural reminders of their rule, notably including churches and thousands of villas.

On August 12, 2015, Tianjin was rocked by a devastating series of chemical explosions at the Port of Tianjin in the Binhai New Area. 173 people died as a result with 797 receiving non-fatal injuries.

Culture
People from urban Tianjin speak Tianjin dialect, which comes under the Mandarin subdivision of spoken Chinese. Despite its proximity to Beijing, Tianjin dialect sounds quite different from Beijing dialect, which provides the basis for Putonghua, the official spoken language of the People's Republic of China.

Tianjin is a respected home base of Beijing opera, one of the most prestigious forms of Chinese opera. Tianjin is famous for its Xiangsheng (相声) stand-up comic crosstalk and comedians including Guo Degang and Ma Sanli. Ma Sanli (马三立) (1914–2003), an ethnic Hui and longtime resident of Tianjin, is renowned for his xiangsheng, a hugely popular form of Chinese entertainment similar to comedy. Ma Sanli delivered some of his xiangsheng in the Tianjin dialect. Tianjin, along with Beijing, is a center for the art of xiangsheng. Yangliuqing (Green Willows), a town about 15 km west of Tianjin's urban area and the seat of Tianjin's Xiqing District, is famous for its popular Chinese New Year-themed, traditional-style, Yangliuqing colourful wash paintings (杨柳青年画). Tianjin is also famous for Zhang's clay figurines (泥人张) which are a type of colourful figurine depicting a variety of vivid characters, and Tianjin's Wei's kites (风筝魏), which can be folded to a fraction of their full sizes, are noted for portability.

By plane

Metro Line 2 connects the airport directly to Tianjin station, with a fare of just ¥3. There are also four Airport Shuttle Bus routes, and the most expensive price is ¥25. No change is given on the bus, so make sure you have exact change for the fare.

From Beijing Capital International Airport
China's main airport in Beijing is a good alternative for getting to Tianjin, especially for long-distance flights from Europe or the Americas. Ticket prices inside China may be lower as well, so this option is worth checking.

 * Take the Airport Express train into Beijing, the subway to Beijing South Station and the bullet train to Tianjin (see below). It takes at least 3½ hours.
 * There is a direct bus between Beijing Airport and Tianjin. It should take 2½ hours but is frequently late. The bus does not go to central Tianjin, but to a bus terminal a little outside. There is a metro station nearby (Anshanxidao, Line 6). From there you can have someone pick you up, or take a taxi.

By train
, sometimes known locally as the 'East Station', is the main station in Tianjin.

It serves the bullet train to Beijing South train station. One-way tickets are ¥55 for Economy, ¥66 for Business, or ¥94 for VIP. The bullet train designation is a 'C' and takes about 33 minutes, traveling up to 300 km/h.

Metro Line 2 directly connects Tianjin Railway Station and Tianjin Airport.

There are shuttle buses between Tianjin railway station and Tianjin airport. A ticket costs ¥15 per trip. The bus stops about 200 m from the train station northern gate (back gate). When you get off the shuttle bus, walk along the pavement to reach the train station.

By taxi, the fare from Tianjin railway station to Tianjin airport is about ¥50-65. Use the official taxi stand (just follow the signage)- it is advised not to use any of the touts that offer taxi services.

If leaving the station by taxi, be prepared for a production-line approach to getting the punters into taxis. Marshals keep the queue moving so have baggage ready to stow and a destination in mind or possibly be forced to go to the back of the line and wait your turn again.

serves as an intermediate station for bullet trains between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao. It is far from the city center, but Metro Line 3 connects the station to the city center. Taxis here are mostly of the illegal variety, so plan accordingly.

is the terminus for trains between Tianjin West and Shanghai Hongqiao. It can be reached by Metro Line 1 and 6.

Binhai Station (滨海站) (formerly Yujiapu) is in the middle of the new financial district in the Binhai New Area, and just a few kilometers from the Binhai Library.

Tanggu Station (塘沽站) serves the seaside district of the same name.

The inter-city trains between Beijing and Tianjin have a number range between C2001 and C2298:

C2001—C2198: From Beijing South Station to Tianjin, non-stop. C2201—C2268: From Beijing South Station to Tianjin, with stops at Wuqing Station (武清站) or Yizhuang Station (亦庄站); C2271—C2298: From Beijing South Station to Tanggu Station of Tianjin.

By car
Some spots in Tianjin, including roads and bridges, have names from Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People (for example, Minquan Gate on Zhonghuan Road). Names harkening back to the era of the Republic of China on the mainland also appear (e.g. Beiyang Road). Many roads in Tianjin are named after a Chinese province or city. Also, Tianjin is unlike Beijing, in that very few roads run parallel to the major four compass directions.

Tianjin has three ring roads. Unlike Beijing, the Inner and Middle Ring Roads are not closed, traffic-controlled roadways and some often have traffic light intersections. The Outer Ring Road is the closest thing to a highway-level ring road, although traffic is often chaotic and sometimes more than chaotic.

By bus
Tianjin is well connected with other cities via bus. The price from Beijing is about ¥30.

There are also two school bus lines linking Nankai and Tianjin Universities and Tsinghua University. They depart daily at 15:45 and 16:45 from Tsinghua's North-West Gate.

By boat
Tianjin is connected by passenger boat to Dalian and Incheon, South Korea.

Get around
Founded in 1904, the Tianjin bus system was the first in China, and the metro was second in the nation (1970) and today the city is well served by its public transportation. Within the city, traveling on a bus line that is less than 12 km (7 km) will cost ¥1.5, while ¥1 will cover a journey on any line over 12 k, even if you travel less than 12 km (7 mi) but on a line that is over this distance, the cost is still ¥1. It's well worth your time to look up popular bus routes. Buses are comfortable and clean.

A light-rail line runs between Tianjin Railway Station to the seaside area Donghailu in TEDA.

By taxi
Taxis are abundant. The minimum cost for 3 km is ¥8, (¥1.7 per km thereafter). Taxis also charge for the time while the vehicle is stationary at ¥1.7 for every five minutes (cost is exempt for less than five minutes). Avoid taxis from near the railway station. See note in the Get in-By train section above about how to avoid train station taxis. The same advice applies at tourist stops, it is best to walk a few blocks to a regular street to catch a metered taxi. Ride with illegal taxis at your own risk.

There are Tianjin tourist maps with destinations written in Chinese characters and English. Pointing at where you want to go will get you a long way with taxi drivers. It might be a good idea to take a magnifying glass along as many of the drivers have trouble with the small font.

You can rent a taxi driver for the day or even for just a few hours. The drivers are happy to wait, and the cost for two hours would be less than ¥100.

Another caution about taxis is that there are toll roads in some parts of China. In a taxi, you will be expected to pay the base fare plus the toll fee. The driver pays the toll and receives a receipt at the toll booth. At your destination, you ask for the receipt and pay that amount plus the base fare. If you are going a long way, you may also be asked to pay for the return toll fee. That is a legitimate request, although you could argue that the driver will pick up another fare to pay for the toll anyway. You may or may not succeed with the driver.

Tipping isn't common practice, as in most Chinese cities.

By metro

The municipality consists of two rapid transit systems, Tianjin Metro and Binhai Mass Transit. They are being expanded from five to nine lines. Five lines are operating in the City and the Binhai area.

As of 2018, the network of Tianjin Metro and Binhai Mass Transit has 152 stations and 6 lines.

Buy
Tianjin has both modern shopping malls and distinctive traditional stores, for shopping delight. Binjiang Dao Business Street and Heping Lu Business Street are the busiest and most prosperous shopping centres in Tianjin. Most of the top shopping malls or department stores can be found on these two streets. Optionally, buy a good translator. Also, most restaurants have a picture menu where you can point and order. You could also learn the hand gestures for numbers that sellers and buyers occasionally use for negotiating. Always carry a pen and paper too.

There are other large shopping districts where only local people shop. You will be a novelty in those areas, but you do not need to be nervous. You will probably get some great deals because even the inflated tourist prices in Tianjin are half what they are in Beijing. Add in some friendly bargaining, and you will feel like the Champion Shopper of the World!

Tianjin is also famous for the following products:
 * Buy tea from the best at the many authentic Chinese tea houses in Tianjin.
 * Tianjin is famous for its high quality ceramics. These are a great souvenir to take home.

Eat
Tianjin cuisine places a heavy focus on seafood, due to Tianjin's proximity to the sea. Prominent menus include the Eight Great Bowls (八大碗), a combination of eight mainly meat dishes. It can be further classified into several varieties, including the rough (粗), smooth (细), and high (高). The Four Great Stews (四大扒) actually refers to a very large number of stews, including chicken, duck, seafood, beef, and mutton.

Tianjin also has several famous snack items. Goubuli Baozi (狗不理包子) is a famous and traditional brand of Baozi (steamed stuffed bun) that is famous throughout China. Guifaxiang Mahua (桂发祥麻花) is a traditional brand of mahua (fried dough twist). Erduoyan Zhagao (耳朵眼炸糕) is a traditional brand of Zhagao, or fried rice cakes.

Drink
There are a number of expat bars catering to the visiting business community, most of which can be a little expensive (¥25 upwards for a small bottle of beer) so if you like something a bit more laid back and comfortable.

As far as clubs go, Tianjin is a big university city both for Chinese and foreign students so there are lots of places for dancing. The music policy tends to be mostly Western and Chinese dance, pop and hip hop/R&B, so if you have more alternative tastes in music, the clubs are possibly not for you!

Stay safe
Tianjin is known to be as safe as any city in China.

Generally you do not have to concern about personal safety in China if you just follow the basics you would at home. Girls generally say they are happy to walk anywhere in the main city areas where there are lights. But if you come out of a night club drunk, you are an obvious target.

 * There are several pedestrian bridge crossing but few tunnel crossings like Beijing. Many people cross at traffic lights or zebra crossing. But generally especially since the roads are wide and new due to recent construction, road crossing should be done with care.
 * Make sure your cab driver turns on the meter. Many try to take a foreigner to their destination and over charge them. If they do not turn it on either ask them to stop and get a new cab or refuse to pay at the end. Cheating Hotline: +86 22 23549000
 * Being a new train station, there is a bit of confusion when getting out of the Tianjin Station to your next connection. There is a taxi and bus hub. At the same time, there are many offering transport or day tours. It is illegal and it is better to wait until you find a travel agency or use the public bus or meter taxi to get to your next destination. If you really want to get one, the price is generally below ¥30 to the downtown.

Emergency hotlines

 * Fire: 119
 * First aid: 120
 * Police:110
 * Traffic Accident: 122
 * Counterfeit Crime: 12333

Connect

 * Tianjin Balitai Post Office (天津八里台), Weijin Rd, No. 215 District (Opposite The Gate of Nankai University), 23378621.

Banking
Though credit and debit cards are gradually becoming more widely accepted at department stores and supermarkets most stores and all attractions still operate on a cash-only basis and only the very largest or most expensive shops accept foreign credit cards. It's generally best to ensure that you have a decent amount of cash on hand when going out. ATMs are located at virtually all bank branches, and most of the large banks now accept foreign debit or credit cards. Bank of China branches all have the ability to take cards from foreign banks, and most offer English instructions. For more advanced financial transactions (converting currency or travellers checks, for instance) the best places to go are the Bank of China branch.

Worship
Tianjin has a Buddhist Temple of Great Compassion, a Catholic St. Joseph's Cathedral (Laoxikai Church), a Catholic Our Lady of Victory Church (Wanghailou Church), a Tianjin Jewish Synagoge and a Roman Catholic Diocese of Tianjin.

Go next

 * Beijing, the nation's capital is close by
 * Qinghuangdao, a seaside resort town at the end of the Great Wall

title: Tianjin


text:
Tianmushan

Tianmushan (Tianmu Mountain) 天目山 is a 1556 metre peak in Li'an County in Zhejiang Province, about 80km from Hangzhou.

Understand
It is famous for the marvellous stands of Japanese Cedar trees, which tower over the surrounding forest and have gigantic girths and attracts huge numbers of domestic tourists to the natural attractions and the temple near the car park. Tianmushan belongs to the UNESCO International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network.

Get in
There are bus connections from Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Stadium bus station, either direct or via Lin'an. Check at the bus station office which would be better according to your timing.

This is a nice place for a weekend away from Hangzhou. If coming from further afield, more time would need to be allowed for travel connections.

Get around
There is a scheduled run of small buses that serve the accommodation areas and connect to the top car and bus park. Most domestic tourists come direct in large coaches and visit the temple near the end of the road, but there are enough independent travellers to make this bus service work. The locals also use it for their connections. However, make sure that you have flash cards for the mountain top car park, or you could end up anywhere, depending where you are staying. Anyway the advantage of this is that the bus does most of the work, with only a few hundred vertical metres left to climb to the summit up a rough track. The summit is not a craggy peak, rather a flattish top with an excruciatingly ugly weather station, still manned by the look of it, but being destroyed by the weather in front of your eyes. Despite this, it is still the summit and worth the trouble. To descend, go back the way you came; you can go back to the bus if you are lame, or continue to the bottom via the forest and find the bus again back to your digs.

Do
Well, you have come to the mountain, then you must climb it. You have a choice, from the bottom car park near a temple, or the top bus station. The shuttle bus would seem to run between these two places, but you should have flash cards to ensure you end up in the correct place. So the easy way is to bus it up and walk down, but don't think this is a breeze, you still have some climbing at the top, and the descent down stone steps will have those knees knowing they are alive. The local fir are massive, something like Douglas Fir with size approaching Californiam Redwoods. They are must to see, and the path meanders near the best of them. The mountain is not the steepest or the tallest or even the most famous in China, but if you are in Shanghai or Hangzhou, it is definitely worth the trip.

Eat
Bamboo shoots are an important agricultural product in the areas surrounding the mountain.

Sleep
There are numerous guest houses at the base of the mountain. They usually offer full board and accommodation from ¥30 per person for bed and maybe another ¥30 for meals, dinner and breakfast. The non-Chinese speaking foreign visitor will find it difficult to communicate with a guest house owner, so it is recommended that the foreign visitor will arrange ahead with a Chinese speaker to make a reservation and give full directions in Chinese script.

title: Tianmushan


text:
Tianshan Tianchi National Park

Tianshan Tianchi National Park (天山天池国家公园) is in Xinjiang, in North West China. It's listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Understand
Sprawling on the edge of Mount Bogda and 100 km east of Urumqi, Tianchi Lake and the surrounding Tianshan Mountains are the most beautiful place in Xinjiang. Tianchi covers 4.9 km² and is 90 meters deep; a natural lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks and sky-scraping dragon spruce fed by thawing snow runoffs.

Get in
The bus from Urumqi will take you as far as the entrance to the park, but to get to Heaven Lake, you can either go by funicular or take the spectacular one hour walk up.

As to May 2011, the funicular isn't working, and there is a free bus that takes you up to the lake.

Local buses
First take 73 to the north bus station in Urumqi. (which is not the name of the stop. Be careful not to confuse this with the Chinese name station 'north river station road' which is more than a few stops north of where you want to arrive). From there, a bus to Fu Kang (1 hour 15 min, ¥15).

From Fu Kang there is a bus to the lake (about 30 minutes, ¥10). When returning to Fu Kang from the lake, expect long delays if trying to go outside of peak times.

In 2018 the last bus that leaves from the entrance area leaves at 8pm.

Fees and permits
There is a ¥155 fee to get in the park.

Get around
In 2018 it is still possible to walk around the lake, for two people in their twenties it took approximately six hours with breaks. However, the western part (behind the temple) is not very well kept as if very few people pass by there. There are endless climbs up stairs as the path makes the visitor ascend and descend the many hills that surround the area. A recommended route is instead to walk to the Fairy statue on the eastern side, and then walk back. Doing so will take approximately 2-4 hours and is much more pleasant. Most Chinese tourist either stay in the entrance area or walk just a bit along the path so there are usually only a few or no people there even on a Saturday during summer.

See
The lake is spectacular, particularly at sunset when the mountains in glow red. Note the Russian dachas among the modern Chinese constructions and Kazakh yurts.

Do
Go for a horseback ride with a Kazakh guide.

Take the cable car to the Maya peak (¥220-30 min-around 3000m), and from there walk on the wooden path around the peak (you can spend hours there, breathtaking views).

Eat
In addition to a restaurant at the top of the funicular, there are a few kebab stands around the lake, mostly concentrated by the entrance

Drink
There is a karaoke hall near the entrance, though beer can also be bought from the kebab stands.

Sleep
While there is a hotel near the road of Heaven Lake, press on for yurt stays. If you are there during the evening you will be approach by locals saying Zuzhu (租住) meaning that you can stay in their yurt. The Kazakh families that run them will provide three meals and a night's lodging for ¥50. They will also help arrange horseback rides if you are interested.

Stay safe
Going from Urumqi means many check-points on the way to and en-route in the park. The trip from Urumqi might take well over four hours so have that in mind when planning your trip.

Go next

 * Urumqi

title: Tianshan Tianchi National Park


text:
Tianshui

Tianshui (天水; Tiānshuǐ) is a city in Gansu Province.

Understand
Tianshui consists of two main area with an industrial area in between. The eastern area is called Beidao and the western area is called Qincheng. Longcheng Lu connects both sections which lie 18 km apart.

By bus
Long Distance Bus Station is at Xinhua Road, Qincheng.
 * Gangu - takes about 2 hours
 * Lanzhou - takes about 4 hours
 * Linxia - takes about 10 hours
 * Pingliang - takes about 8 hours
 * Xian - takes about 5-6 hours

Go next

 * Gangu and Great Statue Mountain - temple complex that hugs the ridge overlooking a small tourist-free town

title: Tianshui


text:
Tibau

Tibau is a beach town in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, on the border with the state of Ceará. It is the main resort for the people of Mossoró, who head out to the beaches both to the east and west during most weekends. In January it's packed with local holidaymakers.

Get in

 * Two daily buses to/from Fortaleza, passing by Aracati (2 hours) and most others towns along the road, by São Benedito tel +55 85 3444 9999. 4,5 - 5,5 hours, R$ 24.
 * Cabs leave for Mossoró as soon as they fill up, 30 minutes, R$ 7-10 per person.

Get around
If you stay near the center, it is all walkable. Both taxis and mototaxis available.

See
The beach

Drink
A couple of bars along Rua Tubarão. First Saturday of every month has a beach party just north of the center. Loads of cars on the beach, each with its stereo going.

Sleep
Heaps of pousadas

Connect
There's always queues at the cyber cafes during holidays.

title: Tibau


text:
Tibau do Sul

Tibau do Sul is a municipality of Rio Grande do Norte. The municipality contains three coastal villages, Tibau do Sul, Pipa and Sibaúma, and several kilometers of sandy beaches surrounded by cliffs. Praia da Pipa and its surrounding beaches, near the village of Pipa, are among the most beautiful and probably the most famous of the state.

Understand
For a long time, Tibau do Sul and Pipa were relatively isolated fishing and farming villages. The origins of Sibaúma are not precisely known, but it is likely to have originated from a quilombo, a settlement of escaped African slaves.

During the 1970s, the region started to attract surfers, and later the tourists would start to come. Nowadays, Pipa is the most popular and "touristy" of the three villages, containing various lodging options and significant nightlife, whereas Sibaúma is the most unspoiled.

By bus
The bus between Natal and Tibau do Sul/Pipa is operated by Expresso Oceano, and costs R$ 18. Check the website for up-to-date routes and itineraries; be aware that there are no buses in either direction during the night. The bus departs from the intercity bus terminal of Natal (Avenida Cap-mor. Gouveia, 1237 - Cidade da Esperança), but if you are staying in Ponta Negra, you may more conveniently pick the bus at Natal Shopping (Av. Sen. Salgado Filho, 2234 - Candelária).

By car
From Natal, take the BR101 motorway, and ride about 78 km until Goianinha. There, take RN-003 to Tibau do Sul/Pipa by following the signs. In the bifurcation, going left will lead you to Tibau do Sul and going right to Pipa.

By dune buggy
With a dune buggy or a similarly powerful vehicle, it is possible to go to Tibau do Sul and Pipa riding alongside the coast. Eventually, you will reach Malembá beach, and to get to Tibau do Sul you need to take a ferry boat to cross Lagoa das Guaraíras. Pipa is just further south.

Get around
It is possible to go by bus from one village to another using the intercity bus of Expresso Oceano (the same that goes to Natal). Buses to Sibaúma are less frequent. It costs R$ 1 between Tibau do Sul-Pipa and Pipa-Sibaúma. Car and buggy are obvious alternatives.

Naturally, you may just walk from one village to another, but be prepared, as the distance between Tibau do Sul and Pipa is about 7 km (and about the same between Pipa and Sibaúma).

Beaches

 * Lagora Guaraíras. With an area of approximately, this brackish water lagoon is surrounded by mangroves and dunes, a setting full of biodiversity.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.
 * Rio Catú. An important watercourse that runs through several municipalities in the region, including Tibau do Sul, Canguaretama and Vila Flor. With its calm waters and lush natural landscape.

Do

 * Do surfing or kitesurfing at the beaches
 * Take a quad bike, jeep or buggy ride to discover the region and hard-to-reach places
 * Get down from the cliffs to the beaches by rapelling
 * Get on a boat to observe the dolphins at Baía dos Golfinhos
 * Navigate the mangroves of Lagoa dos Guaraíras
 * Bring your kids to swim at the various natural swimming pools
 * Watch the sunset at Lagoa dos Guaraíras
 * Do trekking at the forest surrounding the coast
 * The New Year Eve party at Praia da Pipa attracts young crowds from the entire country and also foreigners

Eat
There is a good range of restaurants and snackbars in Pipa (and also some in Tibau do Sul), focusing on seafood, pizzas and crêpes, but also Italian, Japanese, Mexican and other options.

 * Tapas, Check the tartar de atum, made of fresh tuna crusted with sesame seeds, shrimp sauce, honey and ginger.
 * Boa Onda, offering both burger and dishes, besides a variety of drinks and cocktails. Rua da Gameleira.
 * Pé de Manga, BBQ, with Argentine steak.

Drink
Check the central square of Pipa, surrounded by pubs. It becomes particularly crowded close to New Year. Boate Calangos is the largest and most popular club in Pipa.

Go next

 * Canguaretama. Where lies the also famous Barra do Cunhaú beach. To get there, cross the river by boat from Sibaúma.
 * Canguaretama. Where lies the also famous Barra do Cunhaú beach. To get there, cross the river by boat from Sibaúma.

title: Tibau do Sul


text:
Tiberias

Tiberias (Hebrew Teveriyah טבריה) is a large resort town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.

Understand
Tiberias was founded as a Roman city sometime between 20 CE and 44 CE, and named for the emperor Tiberius. It became an important regional center, so much so that the Sea of Galilee was sometimes called the "Sea of Tiberias". During the 3rd century it became the center of Jewish scholarship in Israel, and the "Jerusalem Talmud" was in fact composed in Tiberias. From the 8th to 10th century, Tiberias was home to the Jewish Masoretes who recorded the definitive text, vowels, and pronunciation of the Bible which are used to this day. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Tiberias became an important center for Torah study again, and was regarded as one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Safed.

Tiberias is now a small city focused on tourism. What most characterizes Tiberias is the lake, which presents its blue expanse from great viewpoints in the hills.

Get in
There are intercity and local buses from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, and other cities, which depart from and arrive at the. They usually make additional stops at certain points in the city too, ask your accommodation. Local buses, e.g. to Nazareth, are cheaper but take slightly longer.

From Jenin (and consequently Nablus and Ramallah) you can take a shared taxi (sherut/serviis) or hitch-hike to the border north (₪5-15 depending on the start) and cross on foot. Afterwards a taxi to Afula is ₪40-50. Alternatively, you can take bus 52 from the roundabout after the border into Afula (₪7.40). And from Afula take another regular bus (30, 442, 541, 840) to Tiberias (≈₪10).

Get around
Most of Tiberias' attractions are easily walkable. For most of the others, you can take a bus (from the central station) north or south along the Sea of Galilee coast.

Bus lines 5 and 15 stops at most tourist attractions, most hotels, and Big Fashion Danilof Mall.

Bus lines 37 and 39 travel from Tiberias to Poriya Hospital which located 3km south to Tiberias

Others

Do

 * Stroll along the promenade and catch a northern breeze
 * Visit the City Spa, located within City limits and featuring thermal and sulfur pools
 * Take a swim in the lake.
 * Hire a bicycle and go cycling around the Kinneret lake (requires a whole day to complete the approximately 55-km circuit)
 * There is no regular ferry service from Tiberias to Ein Gev on the other side of the sea, but you may be able to charter a boat as part of a large group. The "Kinneret Sailing Company" 04-665-8008 runs the boats.

Sleep
Many cheap hotels can be found along the shore and on the main street. If you do not have a booked reservation, consult any taxi driver (if you want to be ripped off).

Go next

 * The Sea of Galilee offers interesting destinations, easily reachable from Tiberias, including the famous and beautiful churches about 12 km northeast, and Arbel mountain northwest.
 * Golan Heights is just across the lake.
 * Nazareth – The largest Arab city in Israel and best known as the home of Joseph and Mary.
 * Jenin – Its name means The spring of gardens. Read above on how to accomplish the trip there.
 * Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for nearby Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea. Going south, stop at Belvoir Castle for a great view across the fertile Jordan valley.
 * Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region.

title: Tiberias