British academician Robert Mark Ellam, chair professor at Tianjin University's School of Earth System Science, joined the trip. "What you read in the newspapers or see on television does not always give an accurate picture of places like Tianjin, or China more broadly," he said. "The best way to understand it is to come here and experience it for yourself."

Jinghai district is also preparing for major sports events later this year — including the Tuanbo Lake Half Marathon and a road cycling race — blending music, sports, and smart health into a distinctive cultural and industrial package.

Ma Yucong and Li Yuheng contributed to this story.