Tongzhou, Beijing

Tongzhou (Chinese: 通州; pinyin: Tōngzhōu), historically romanized as Tong-Choo-Foo in 18th-century British accounts, is a district of Beijing. It sits in southeast Beijing and is considered the eastern gateway to the nation's capital. Downtown Tongzhou lies around 20 km (12 mi) 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 906 km² (350 sq mi), which is about 6% of Beijing's total area. Over the years, Tongzhou has grown a lot. In the year 2000, about 673,952 people lived there. By 2010, the population had grown to 1,184,000, and by 2020, it reached 1,840,295. This growth shows how much the area has developed and become more populated over time.

History

"Cat-merchants and tea-delears at Tongzhou", late 18th century

Tongzhou was founded in 195 BC during the Western Han dynasty as Lu County. Later, its name changed to reflect its role as a key gateway to Beijing.

In 1937, during a time of conflict, Tongzhou saw brave actions by local troops who stood against invading forces. In 1997, Tongzhou became an official district of Beijing, and in 2015, it was named a secondary administrative center to help manage the growing city.

Economy

In 2017, the economy of Tongzhou was quite strong. The district's total goods and services produced, called GDP, were worth 75.8 billion yuan. This means that, on average, each person in Tongzhou helped create about 50,3 thousand yuan worth of goods and services that year.

Geography and environment

Satellite image of part of Tongzhou District in September 1967

Tongzhou District is located in southeast Beijing and borders several other districts and cities, including Shunyi, Chaoyang, Daxing, Wuqing District of Tianjin Municipality, and Langfang City of Hebei province. It is about 19 km (12 miles) from Tiananmen Square and 16 km (10 miles) from Beijing Capital International Airport.

The area sits on the North China Plain with an average elevation of 20 meters. Tongzhou experiences a mild temperate climate with hot summers and cold winters. The district receives about 536.6 mm (21.13 in) of rainfall each year, with July being the wettest month. Several rivers, including the Wenyu, the Liangshui, and Chaobai, flow through the region.

Administrative divisions

Tongzhou District is made up of 11 subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township. Some of the subdistricts, like Wenjing Subdistrict, Jiukeshu Subdistrict, Linheli Subdistrict, Yangzhuang Subdistrict, and Luyi Subdistrict, were added in 2020 by the Tongzhou District Government.

Name	Chinese (S)	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2010)	Area (km²)	Population density (per km²)
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

Transportation

Tongzhou is well connected to Beijing by the Jingtong Expressway and several metro lines run by the Beijing Subway. The area's main roads, Beijing's Fifth and Sixth Ring Road, are about the same distance from Tongzhou's central business area, known as the CBD. Highways also go to cities like Shenyang, Harbin, and Tianjin/Tanggu.

Tongzhou has many metro lines, including Line 6, Line 7, Line 17, the Batong line, the Yizhuang line, and the Yizhuang T1 line. There are also suburban railway lines such as the Sub-Central and Tongmi lines.

Industry and tourism

Tongzhou Wanda Plaza

Tongzhou has seven industrial zones covering 64 square kilometers (25 sq mi), focusing on manufacturing and high-tech industries. Downtown Tongzhou is being redeveloped into a central business district with many shops and stores. The area is also known for its horticulture, fruit-farming, seed-growing, and aquatics.

The district is promoting its location at the head of the Grand Canal to attract visitors to the Grand Canal Cultural Park. The Songzhuang artists' village, home to many Chinese contemporary artists, is located here. The Universal Beijing Resort opened on 20 September 2021. Additionally, the Canal Business District is under construction, planning to become a hub for headquarters of major government enterprises and wealth management.

Education and health

Tongzhou has many schools, including 113 kindergartens, 141 primary schools, and 51 high schools. It is also home to important universities such as the Beijing University of Technology and the Beijing Institute of Music. The area has hospitals that focus on specific health needs, like treating tuberculosis and using traditional Chinese medicine. One notable private school in the area is the Beijing Shuren Ribet Private School.