Tianjin (Chinese: 天津; pinyin: Tiānjīn; Postal map spelling: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of China that are directly under the central government and have provincial-level status. Its urban area is the third largest in China, after Shanghai and Beijing. Tianjin's urban area is located along the Hai He River. Its ports, some distance away, are located on Bohai Gulf in the Pacific Ocean. Tianjin Municipality borders Hebei province to the north, south, and west; the municipality of Beijing is to the northwest, and Bohai Gulf to the east.