Tongzhou, Beijing

Coordinates: 39°54′36″N 116°39′23″E / 39.91000°N 116.65639°E / 39.91000; 116.65639
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Tongzhou
通州区
Tungchow
Canal Business District under construction
Canal Business District under construction
Map
Location of Tongzhou District in Beijing
Location of Tongzhou District in Beijing
Coordinates: 39°54′36″N 116°39′23″E / 39.91000°N 116.65639°E / 39.91000; 116.65639
CountryPeople's Republic of China
MunicipalityBeijing
Township-level divisions4 subdistricts
10 towns
1 ethnic township
District seatZhongcang Subdistrict
Area
 • Total906 km2 (350 sq mi)
Elevation
32 m (106 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,840,295
 • Density2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
101149
Area code0010
Websitebjtzh.gov.cn/
Tongzhou
"Tongzhou", as written in Chinese
Chinese通州
PostalTungchow
Tongxian (Tong County)
Simplified Chinese通县
Traditional Chinese通縣
PostalTungchow

Tongzhou[a] 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 20 km (12 mi) 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 906 km2 (350 sq mi), 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.[1] The district is subdivided into four subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township.

History[edit]

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

Tongzhou was founded in 195 BC during the Western Han Dynasty under the name of Lu (路) 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 (潞). 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[edit]

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 murdered and tortured as well as captured Japanese military personnel.

People's Republic[edit]

The place name changed to Tong County (simplified Chinese: 通县; traditional Chinese: 通縣; pinyin: Tōng Xiàn) 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.[2]

On 11 July 2015, Tongzhou became the second administrative seat of Beijing as a "sub-administrative center" for the municipality.[3] Numerous local government departments will be moved to Tongzhou to reduce crowding within the city center of Beijing.[4]

Economy[edit]

In 2017, the regional GDP of the district was 75.8 billion yuan,[5] with GDP per capita at 50.3 thousand yuan.

Geography and environment[edit]

Satellite image of part of Tongzhou District. (1967-09-20)

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

Tongzhou is situated on the North China Plain with an average elevation of 20 meters (66 ft). 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 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). and 620 mm (24 in) of rainfall. Several large rivers, among them the Wenyu, the Liangshui and Chaobai flow through the district.

Climate[edit]

Tongzhou District has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwa). The average annual temperature in Tongzhou is 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 526.7 mm (20.74 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.5 °C (27.5 °F).

Climate data for Tongzhou District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)
20.1
(68.2)
28.5
(83.3)
32.1
(89.8)
37.9
(100.2)
40.2
(104.4)
41.9
(107.4)
38.1
(100.6)
35.0
(95.0)
30.6
(87.1)
21.3
(70.3)
13.5
(56.3)
41.9
(107.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)
6.0
(42.8)
13.0
(55.4)
20.9
(69.6)
27.0
(80.6)
30.7
(87.3)
31.8
(89.2)
30.7
(87.3)
26.5
(79.7)
19.2
(66.6)
10.2
(50.4)
3.5
(38.3)
18.5
(65.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.7
(27.1)
0.6
(33.1)
7.2
(45.0)
14.9
(58.8)
21.1
(70.0)
25.0
(77.0)
27.0
(80.6)
26.0
(78.8)
21.0
(69.8)
13.7
(56.7)
5.2
(41.4)
−1.0
(30.2)
13.2
(55.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.8
(19.8)
−3.9
(25.0)
2.2
(36.0)
9.3
(48.7)
15.2
(59.4)
20.0
(68.0)
22.9
(73.2)
21.9
(71.4)
16.3
(61.3)
8.9
(48.0)
1.1
(34.0)
−4.7
(23.5)
8.5
(47.4)
Record low °C (°F) −15.7
(3.7)
−14.8
(5.4)
−7.3
(18.9)
1.2
(34.2)
6.3
(43.3)
11.7
(53.1)
16.5
(61.7)
15.0
(59.0)
7.2
(45.0)
−2.0
(28.4)
−6.9
(19.6)
−13.2
(8.2)
−15.7
(3.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.1
(0.08)
5.4
(0.21)
7.6
(0.30)
22.4
(0.88)
37.7
(1.48)
77.8
(3.06)
169.6
(6.68)
115.2
(4.54)
54.5
(2.15)
28.7
(1.13)
13.8
(0.54)
1.8
(0.07)
536.6
(21.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.2 1.9 2.5 4.6 5.5 9.4 11.5 9.6 6.7 4.7 2.9 1.4 61.9
Average snowy days 2.9 2.3 1.0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.8 2.5 10.7
Average relative humidity (%) 43 42 41 43 49 60 71 73 66 60 54 46 54
Mean monthly sunshine hours 176.8 179.5 224.0 239.0 264.3 224.0 190.3 205.9 203.3 193.6 162.0 164.4 2,427.1
Percent possible sunshine 59 59 60 60 59 50 42 49 55 57 55 57 55
Source: China Meteorological Administration[6][7]

Administrative divisions[edit]

Tongzhou District is divided into six subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township. Two of the towns of which carry the "area" (地区) label.[8][9]

Aerial view of Yongshun Town of Tongzhou.
Name Chinese (S) Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010)[10] 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
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
Lucheng town 潞城镇 Lùchéng Zhèn
Yongshun (town) Area 永顺(镇)地区 Yǒngshùn (Zhèn) Dìqū 195,194 39.46 4,947
Liyuan (town) Area 梨园(镇)地区 Líyuán (Zhèn) Dìqū 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

On May 11, 2020, Tongzhou District Government made a series of changes to its administrative divisions by adding the following subdistricts:[11]

Transportation[edit]

Beijing–Harbin railway over the Grand Canal in Tongzhou

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[edit]

Tongzhou is currently served by four metro lines operated by Beijing Subway:

Suburban railway[edit]

Tongzhou is also served by two suburban railway lines:

Industry and tourism[edit]

There are seven industrial zones with a total area of 64 square kilometers (25 sq mi) 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.[citation needed]

The Songzhuang artists' village, where many Chinese contemporary artists live and work, is located in the Tongzhou District.[12][13]

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.[14] Canal Business District plans to develop industrial clusters of headquarters economy and wealth management.[15]

Gallery of the construction site of Canal Business District:

Education and health[edit]

Tongzhou has good education facilities including 113 kindergartens, 141 primary schools, 51 high schools and many adult education colleges[citation needed]. 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:

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Chinese: 通州区; pinyin: Tōngzhōu Qū; Wade–Giles: T'ung1chou1 Ch'ü1, alternate spellings Tungchow Tungchou (T'ung-chou), or Tong County during 1914–1997

References[edit]

  1. ^ "China: Bĕijīng (Districts) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ "History & Culture". Tongzhou. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011.[]
  3. ^ 北京加快"行政副中心"建设 将聚焦通州. 凤凰财经 (in Chinese). 11 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. ^ Johnson, Ian (25 June 2015). "China Aims to Move Beijing Government Out of City's Crowded Core". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  5. ^ [1]"Regional Yearbook of Beijing,2018"
  6. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  7. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. ^ These towns are officially classified as subdistricts, but as they coincide with the area of the same name, they are commonly named "areas" (地区)
  9. ^ 2011年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码:通州区 (in Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  10. ^ Census Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Population and Employment Statistics Division of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China (2012). 中国2010人口普查分乡、镇、街道资料 (1 ed.). Beijing: China Statistics Print. ISBN 978-7-5037-6660-2.
  11. ^ "政策文件文章页_北京市通州区人民政府". www.bjtzh.gov.cn. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Branding Songzhuang". Studio 360: Made in China. 16 November 2007. {{cite episode}}: External link in |series= (help)
  13. ^ "SongZhuang Artists Community". Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  14. ^ 北京城市副中心行政办公区二期加快建设. 人民网 (in Chinese). 5 January 2020.
  15. ^ 徐飞鹏 武红利 (9 December 2019). "蔡奇:建设一流的现代运河商务区-新华网". 北京日报. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.

External links[edit]