Jiefang Bridge and Railway Station clock tower. Jintang Bridge. Photo taken in 2018. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

Tianjin is in many ways a unique city that combines many facets, physical, historic and contemporary. It has increasingly become a passion for me to document both its people and the urban development alongside often positive attempts at preserving an important historic legacy. It has also been personally fascinating to follow the interest shown in my approach to Tianjin. Not only from westerners who had previously or continue to regard the city as home, but also from Chinese who have moved overseas. Some recall to me their fondness of earlier days growing up and studying there, sometimes many years ago.

I can appreciate why the film team working for the recent BBC programme asked to go with them to Tianjin. However, as always there was not enough time to fully recount my many passions and experiences with the city! For me, Tianjin is only a short journey from Beijing. There still remains much to document about this, China's historic 'Ford of Heaven'.