Tongzhou (), historically romanized as Tong-Choo-Foo in 18th-century British accounts, is a district of Beijing. It is located in southeast Beijing and considered the eastern gateway to the nation's capital. Downtown Tongzhou itself lies around east of central Beijing, at the northern end of the Grand Canal (on the junction between the Tonghui Canal and the Northern Canal) and at the easternmost end of Chang'an Avenue. The entire district covers an area of , or 6% of Beijing's total area. It had a population of 673,952 at the 2000 Census, and has seen significant growth and development since then, growing to a population of 1,184,000 at the 2010 Census and 1,840,295 at the 2020 census. The district is subdivided into four subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township.

History

Tongzhou was founded in 195 BC during the Western Han dynasty under the name of Lu () County, although there is evidence for human settlement in the Neolithic. At the start of the Eastern Han dynasty the character Lu by which it was known was altered by the addition of a water radical to become Lu (). In 1151 under the Jin dynasty Lu County was renamed Tongzhou, roughly meaning 'the place for passing through', in recognition of its importance as the land and water approach to Beijing.

Ming, Qing & Republican era In July 1937, subsequent to the infamous Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Tongzhou became another site of determined Chinese resistance. In the Tongzhou mutiny troops of the nominally Japanese-puppet East Hebei Army rebelled and came to the aid of hard-pressed Kuomintang troops, and attacked the Japanese garrison. In the fall of Tongzhou to the Nationalists, many civilians were tortured and murdered as well as captured Japanese military personnel.

People's Republic The place name changed to Tong County () when the area was placed under the new municipal region of Beijing in 1914. It again reverted to "Tongzhou" when the area was upgraded in 1997 to a district.[]

On 11 July 2015, Tongzhou became the second administrative seat of Beijing as a "sub-administrative center" for the municipality. Numerous local government departments will be moved to Tongzhou to reduce crowding within the city center of Beijing.

Economy In 2017, the regional GDP of the district was 75.8 billion yuan,"Regional Yearbook of Beijing,2018" with GDP per capita at 50.3 thousand yuan.

Geography and environment

Tongzhou District borders the Beijing districts of Shunyi, Chaoyang and Daxing, Wuqing District of Tianjin Municipality, and Langfang City (both the Sanhe City−Dachang County−Xianghe County exclave and Guangyang District) of Hebei province, and is 19 km (12 miles) from Tiananmen Square and 16 km (10 miles) from Beijing Capital International Airport.

Tongzhou is situated on the North China Plain with an average elevation of . Its climate belongs to the mild temperate zone, with distinct seasons including hot summers and freezing winters. Dust storms are common. It has an annual mean temperature of . and of rainfall. Several large rivers, among them the Wenyu, the Liangshui and Chaobai flow through the district.

Climate

Tongzhou District has a humid continental climate with humid subtropical influences (Köppen climate classification Dwa/Cwa). The average annual temperature in Tongzhou is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around .

Administrative divisions

Tongzhou District is divided into 11 subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township. Name Chinese (S) Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010) Area (km2) Population density (per km2) Zhongcang Subdistrict 57,550 6.50 8,854 Xinhua Subdistrict 8,891 3.25 2,736 Tongyun Subdistrict Beiyuan Subdistrict 73,423 36.60 2,006 Yuqiao Subdistrict 64,482 11.20 5,757 Luyuan Subdistrict 72,611 144.00 504 Wenjing Subdistrict Jiukeshu Subdistrict Linheli Subdistrict Yangzhuang Subdistrict Luyi Subdistrict Lucheng town Yongshun town 195,194 39.46 4,947 Liyuan town 140,520 24.87 5,650 Songzhuang town 104,143 116.00 898 Zhangjiawan town 89,273 105.80 844 Huoxian town 61,413 113.68 540 Majuqiao town 107,048 82.00 1,305 Xiji town 43,244 95.29 454 Taihu town 99,039 82.50 1,200 Yongledian town 40,241 105.00 383 Yujiawu Hui Ethnic Township 27,184 65.70 414 Wenjing Subdistrict, Jiukeshu Subdistrict, Linheli Subdistrict, Yangzhuang Subdistrict, and Luyi Subdistrict were created by the Tongzhou District Government on 11 May 2020.

Transportation Downtown Tongzhou is connected to downtown Beijing by Jingtong Expressway and several metro lines operated by Beijing Subway. Beijing's Fifth and Sixth Ring Road are roughly equidistant from Tongzhou's CBD. Highways lead to Shenyang, Harbin and Tianjin/Tanggu.

Metro Tongzhou is currently served by six metro lines operated by Beijing Subway:

– Wuzixueyuanlu, Tongzhou Beiguan, Beiyunhe West, Beiyunhe East, Haojiafu, Dongxiayuan, Lucheng, Luyang – Wansheng Xi (West), Wansheng Dong (East), Qun Fang, Gao Lou Jin, Hua Zhuang , (S) – Beishenshu, Ciqubei, Ciqu , Jiahuihu – Tongzhou Beiyuan, , , , , , Hua Zhuang , – Tongjinanlu, Jinghailu, Ciqu South, Ciqu , Yizhuang railway station – , ,

Suburban railway Tongzhou is also served by two suburban railway lines: – Tongzhou, Qiaozhuang East – Tongzhou West

Industry and tourism

There are seven industrial zones with a total area of in Tongzhou, focusing on manufacturing and high-tech industries. Downtown Tongzhou is earmarked for redevelopment into a comprehensive central business district with an emphasis on consumer retail. In agriculture, the district emphasizes on horticulture, fruit-farming, seed-growing and aquatics. The district government is currently promoting Tongzhou's position at the head of the Grand Canal to attract tourists to its Grand Canal Cultural Park.

The Songzhuang artists' village, where many Chinese contemporary artists live and work, is located in the Tongzhou District.

The Universal Beijing Resort is also located in Tongzhou, and opened on 20 September 2021.

Canal Business District is under construction. Headquarters of Beijing branches of Central Government-owned Enterprises and Headquarters of Beijing Government-owned Enterprises will move to Tongzhou. Canal Business District plans to develop industrial clusters of headquarters economy and wealth management.

Gallery of the construction site of Canal Business District:

Education and health

Tongzhou has good education facilities including 113 kindergartens, 141 primary schools, 51 high schools and many adult education colleges. It also boasts the Beijing Materials Institute, Beijing University of Technology and the Beijing Institute of Music. Its hospitals include a specialist tuberculosis treatment center and a hospital specializing in traditional Chinese medicine.

Private schools include: Beijing Shuren Ribet Private School

See also List of administrative divisions of Beijing

Notes

References

External links

Official website of the Tongzhou District People's Government Tongzhou website of the Tongzhou Government