I've been to Tianjin three times, and here's my comprehensive travel guide.
Tianjin is a great city for city walks. All the attractions are close to each other, so you can have a great time without getting tired, whether you're driving or taking the high-speed train.
One day is enough to follow this itinerary, but if you want to see the seagulls, I recommend two days.
One-day itinerary:
The Century Clock is right next to Tianjin Station, just a five-minute walk away. The Liberation Bridge is right next to the Century Clock.
Century Clock → Italian Style Town (about 800 meters), full of European architecture, perfect for photos
Italian Style Town → Wudadao (3 km), it's Christmas season now, and many shops have a strong Christmas atmosphere, with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snowflakes, etc. It's very festive and atmospheric. (Go in the morning, as many shops on Wudadao close around 7 pm)
Wudadao → Porcelain House (1.5 km), I didn't go inside, just took some photos outside. Next to the Porcelain House is the Tianhe City Mall, which is quite large. If you have time, you can take a stroll.
Porcelain House → Northwest Corner (4 km), many shops are open all day, but some only sell breakfast.
Northwest Corner → Ancient Culture Street (1.7 km), with local specialty shops like Clay Figure Zhang, Tianjin Mahua, and Erduoyan Fried Cake.
Ancient Culture Street → Tianjin Eye (1.3 km), lights up at 6 pm, a landmark of Tianjin and a must-see attraction.
Seagull viewing guide:
The best time to see seagulls is from November to February. I recommend going directly to Dongjiang Port Coastal Park (the old pier is said to be very crowded, with a poor experience for playing and taking photos). You can buy old bread to feed the seagulls, 10 yuan per pack. There are photographers by the sea, charging 20 yuan per photo.
Food recommendations:
Tongfahao Restaurant, Xiaolao Restaurant, Dingji Juanzhuan, Xiaoli Roast Chicken, Guifaxiang Mahua, Erduoyan Fried Cake, Hanpu Shidai Teahouse, Gaba Vegetable, and Jianbing are all available at the Northwest Corner.