The Samaranch Memorial Museum is located in the Health Industry Park, West Area of Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Centered on the life and Olympic contributions of former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, the memorial is a comprehensive venue integrating exhibitions, education, research, and cultural exchange. Its distinctive feature lies in presenting, through a large number of precious physical exhibits, video materials, and interactive experience projects, the deep connection between Samaranch and the Olympic movement, as well as his efforts in promoting the development of global sports. The memorial covers an area of about 144,000 square meters, with a building area of 19,000 square meters. The main building combines Spanish style with modern architectural elements, has a unique appearance, and features clear internal functional zones, providing visitors with a good visiting environment.
History and Culture
The establishment of the Samaranch Memorial Museum is closely related to Mr. Samaranch. Juan Antonio Samaranch (1920–2010) was a famous Spanish sports figure who served as President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001. During his tenure, he had a profound impact on the development of the Olympic movement. He actively promoted the globalization of the Olympic movement, facilitated sports and cultural exchanges between different countries and regions, and also gave important support to China's bid to host the Olympic Games.
In order to commemorate Mr. Samaranch's outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement and to inherit and carry forward the Olympic spirit, the Samaranch Memorial Museum came into being. The memorial officially opened to the public in 2013. It houses a large number of precious items donated by Mr. Samaranch, including office supplies he used during his lifetime, honorary medals he received, photos with political figures and sports personalities from various countries, and related documents and materials. These collections bear witness to Mr. Samaranch's life journey and the development history of the Olympic movement.
Main Attractions
Main Exhibition Hall
The Main Exhibition Hall is the core area of the Samaranch Memorial Museum, with a building area of about 12,000 square meters. Through multiple themed exhibition areas such as "Samaranch's Life," "Samaranch and the Olympics," and "China and the Olympics," the hall systematically displays Samaranch's life story, his work experience at the International Olympic Committee, and the development history of the Olympic movement. The hall displays nearly 30,000 pieces from Mr. Samaranch's personal collection, including the torch of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the desk he used when serving as President of the International Olympic Committee, various Olympic medals, stamps, commemorative coins, and other precious items. Through physical objects, pictures, videos, and other forms, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the story of Samaranch and the Olympics.
Outdoor Sculpture Park
The Outdoor Sculpture Park covers an area of about 50,000 square meters. Several sculptures related to the Olympic movement are placed in the park. These sculptures have rich themes, including athletes' sporting postures and the Olympic five-ring logo, and feature diverse artistic styles, including both realistic works and abstract creations. The Sculpture Park provides visitors with a place for leisure and relaxation. While enjoying sculpture art, visitors can also feel the vitality and charm of the Olympic movement.
Olympic Movement Themed Exhibition Hall
This exhibition hall covers an area of about 800 square meters and focuses on the history, current situation, and future development of the Olympic movement. The hall displays the emblems, mascots, competition equipment, and other items of different Olympic Games, and introduces in detail the origin of the Olympic Games, important events in its development, and the rules and characteristics of various events. In addition, through interactive multimedia equipment, the exhibition hall allows visitors to experience virtual Olympic competition events, enhancing the fun and participation of the visit.
Food
Memorial Restaurant
The Samaranch Memorial Museum has a restaurant offering various light meals and specialty foods. The restaurant mainly serves dishes combining Chinese and Western styles to meet the taste needs of different visitors. Among them, the Olympic-themed set meal is one of the restaurant's specialties. The plating design of the set meal incorporates Olympic elements, such as dish combinations inspired by the Olympic five rings, allowing visitors to feel a strong Olympic atmosphere while tasting food. The restaurant has a clean and comfortable environment and moderate prices, making it a good choice for visitors to rest and dine.
Surrounding Food
Jinghai Stewed Fish
At local restaurants not far from the memorial, visitors can taste authentic Jinghai stewed fish. This dish uses fresh local fish, paired with ingredients such as tofu and vermicelli, and is slowly stewed in a clay pot. The broth is rich, and the fish is tender and flavorful. It is a specialty home-style dish of the Jinghai area and reflects the local food culture.
Tianjin Fried Dough Twists
At specialty shops or snack shops around the memorial, visitors can buy the famous Tianjin fried dough twists. Made from flour, sesame, rock sugar, and other ingredients and then fried, Tianjin fried dough twists are crisp, sweet, and fragrant, with a unique shape. They are one of Tianjin's traditional famous pastries, easy to carry, and suitable as tourist souvenirs.
Tickets：
Tickets are 60 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "Samaranch Memorial Museum" on WeChat to obtain the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30), and closed every Monday (except statutory holidays). In addition, during major holidays such as the Olympic Games and the anniversary of Samaranch's birth, the memorial may extend its opening hours or hold special activities. Visitors are advised to check and confirm the specific opening hours through official channels before traveling.
Tour Route：
After entering the Samaranch Memorial Museum, visitors can first go to the Main Exhibition Hall and visit in order according to "Samaranch's Life," "Samaranch and the Olympics," and "China and the Olympics" to gain an in-depth understanding of Samaranch's life and Olympic contributions. This process takes about 1.5 hours. After that, go to the Olympic Movement Themed Exhibition Hall to learn about the development history of the Olympic movement and related knowledge and experience interactive projects, which takes about 1 hour. After visiting the indoor exhibition halls, stroll through the Outdoor Sculpture Park, enjoy the sculptures, and relax, which takes about 1 hour. The entire tour is recommended to be arranged for 3.5–4 hours so as to fully experience all areas of the memorial.
Transportation：
Bus: You can take Jinghai Bus No. 872 and get off at the Samaranch Memorial Museum stop, then walk about 5 minutes to arrive.
Self-driving: Starting from downtown Tianjin, drive along the Rongwu Expressway toward Jinghai, get off at the Tuanbo New Town exit, and follow the road signs for about 3 kilometers to reach the memorial. The memorial has a parking lot with sufficient parking spaces, and the charging standard is 5 yuan per hour for small vehicles.
Taxi/ride-hailing: Taking a taxi from downtown Tianjin to the Samaranch Memorial Museum takes about 40–50 minutes, and the cost is about 80–100 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Main Exhibition Hall: This is the core of the memorial, housing nearly 30,000 pieces from Samaranch's personal collection. Through rich exhibits and detailed introductions, it comprehensively presents the deep connection between Samaranch and the Olympics. It is a key attraction for understanding Samaranch's life and the development of the Olympic movement.
Outdoor Sculpture Park: Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, it has many sculptures related to the Olympics. Visitors can both appreciate art and feel the Olympic atmosphere. It is a great place for leisure and relaxation.
Travel Suggestions：
It is recommended to arrange 3.5–4 hours for the visit so as to have enough time to carefully visit each exhibition hall and outdoor area.
When visiting the Main Exhibition Hall, you can rent an audio guide device (rental 20 yuan per unit) to gain a deeper understanding of the stories behind the exhibits.
Visitors with children can focus on experiencing the interactive projects in the Olympic Movement Themed Exhibition Hall, allowing children to learn Olympic knowledge while having fun.
It is recommended to visit on non-holidays, when there are fewer tourists and the visiting experience is better.
Notes：
After entering the exhibition halls, please do not make loud noises, keep quiet, and observe order in the exhibition halls.
Smoking and eating are prohibited in the museum. Please do not touch the exhibits and facilities, and take care of the museum environment.
When taking photos, please do not use flash, so as not to damage the exhibits.
During the visit, please take good care of your personal belongings to prevent loss.
Observe the various regulations of the memorial and follow the guidance and arrangements of the staff.