Tongzhou, Beijing
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 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, 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 of Hebei province, and is 19 km from Tiananmen Square and 16 km 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. 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 | Hanyu Pinyin | Population | Area | Population density |
| Zhongcang Subdistrict | 中仓街道 | Zhōngcāng Jiēdào | 57,550 | 6.50 | 8,854 |
| Xinhua Subdistrict | 新华街道 | Xīnhuá Jiēdào | 8,891 | 3.25 | 2,736 |
| Tongyun Subdistrict | 通运街道 | Tōngyùn Jiēdào | 8,891 | 3.25 | 2,736 |
| Beiyuan Subdistrict | 北苑街道 | Běiyuàn Jiēdào | 73,423 | 36.60 | 2,006 |
| Yuqiao Subdistrict | 玉桥街道 | Yùqiáo Jiēdào | 64,482 | 11.20 | 5,757 |
| Luyuan Subdistrict | 潞源街道 | Lùyuán Jiēdào | 72,611 | 144.00 | 504 |
| Wenjing Subdistrict | 文景街道 | Wénjǐng Jiēdào | |||
| Jiukeshu Subdistrict | 九棵树街道 | Jiǔkēshù Jiēdào | |||
| Linheli Subdistrict | 临河里街道 | Línhélǐ Jiēdào | |||
| Yangzhuang Subdistrict | 杨庄街道 | Yángzhuāng Jiēdào | |||
| Luyi Subdistrict | 潞邑街道 | Lùyì Jiēdào | |||
| Lucheng town | 潞城镇 | Lùchéng Zhèn | - | - | - |
| Yongshun town | 永顺镇 | Yǒngshùn Zhèn | 195,194 | 39.46 | 4,947 |
| Liyuan town | 梨园镇 | Líyuán Zhèn | 140,520 | 24.87 | 5,650 |
| Songzhuang town | 宋庄镇 | Sòngzhuāng Zhèn | 104,143 | 116.00 | 898 |
| Zhangjiawan town | 张家湾镇 | Zhāngjiāwān Zhèn | 89,273 | 105.80 | 844 |
| Huoxian town | 漷县镇 | Huǒxiàn Zhèn | 61,413 | 113.68 | 540 |
| Majuqiao town | 马驹桥镇 | Mǎjūqiáo Zhèn | 107,048 | 82.00 | 1,305 |
| Xiji town | 西集镇 | Xījí Zhèn | 43,244 | 95.29 | 454 |
| Taihu town | 台湖镇 | Táihú Zhèn | 99,039 | 82.50 | 1,200 |
| Yongledian town | 永乐店镇 | Yǒnglèdiàn Zhèn | 40,241 | 105.00 | 383 |
| Yujiawu Hui Ethnic Township | 于家务回族乡 | Yújiāwù Huízú Xiāng | 27,184 | 65.70 | 414 |
Wenjing Subdistrict, Jiukeshu Subdistrict, Linheli Subdistrict, Yangzhuang Subdistrict, and Luyi Subdistrict were created by the Tongzhou District Government on May 11, 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
- – Wansheng Xi, Wansheng Dong, Qun Fang, Gao Lou Jin, Hua Zhuang,
- - Beishenshu, Ciqubei, Ciqu, Jiahuihu
- – Tongzhou Beiyuan,,,,,, Hua Zhuang,
- – Tongjinanlu, Jinghailu, Ciqu South, Ciqu, Yizhuang railway station
- -,,
Suburban railway
- – Tongzhou, Qiaozhuang East
- – Tongzhou West
Industry and tourism
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: