Tongzhou, Beijing

District in Beijing, China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tongzhou[a] (Chinese: 通州; pinyin: Tōngzhōu), historically romanized as Tong-Choo-Foo in 18th-century British accounts,[1] 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.[2] The district is subdivided into four subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township.

CountryChina
Elevation
32 m (105 ft)
Quick facts 通州区Tungchow, Country ...
Tongzhou
通州区
Tungchow
Canal Business District in 2021
Canal Business District in 2021
Location of Tongzhou District in Beijing
Location of Tongzhou District in Beijing
Coordinates: 39°54′36″N 116°39′23″E
CountryChina
MunicipalityBeijing
Township-level divisions4 subdistricts
10 towns
1 ethnic township
District seatZhongcang Subdistrict
Area
  Total
906 km2 (350 sq mi)
Elevation
32 m (105 ft)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
1,840,295
  Density2,030/km2 (5,260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
101149
Area code0010
Websitebjtzh.gov.cn/
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Chinese通州
PostalTungchow
Hanyu PinyinTōngzhōu
Hanyu PinyinTōngzhōu
Quick facts Chinese, Postal ...
Tongzhou
"Tongzhou", as written in Chinese
Chinese通州
PostalTungchow
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTōngzhōu
Wade–GilesT'ung1-chou1
Tongxian (Tong County)
Simplified Chinese通县
Traditional Chinese通縣
PostalTungchow
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTōngxiàn
Wade–GilesT'ung1-hsien4
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History

"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

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 (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.[3]

On 11 July 2015, Tongzhou became the second administrative seat of Beijing as a "sub-administrative center" for the municipality.[4] Numerous local government departments will be moved to Tongzhou to reduce crowding within the city center of Beijing.[5]

Economy

In 2017, the regional GDP of the district was 75.8 billion yuan,[6] with GDP per capita at 50.3 thousand yuan.

Geography and environment

Satellite image of part of Tongzhou District in September 1967

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 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 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 13.2 °C (55.8 °F). and 536.6 mm (21.13 in) 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 13.2 °C (55.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 536.6 mm (21.13 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.7 °C (27.1 °F).

More information Climate data for Tongzhou District, elevation 20 m (66 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present), Month ...
Climate data for Tongzhou District, elevation 20 m (66 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)
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)
29.2
(84.6)
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) −22.4
(−8.3)
−14.8
(5.4)
−7.3
(18.9)
1.2
(34.2)
2.6
(36.7)
11.7
(53.1)
16.5
(61.7)
15.0
(59.0)
7.2
(45.0)
−2.0
(28.4)
−6.9
(19.6)
−18.7
(−1.7)
−22.4
(−8.3)
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
Percentage possible sunshine 59 59 60 60 59 50 42 49 55 57 55 57 55
Source: China Meteorological Administration[7][8] all-time extreme temperature[9]
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Administrative divisions

Tongzhou District is divided into 11 subdistricts, ten towns, and one ethnic township.[10]

More information Name, Chinese (S) ...
NameChinese (S)Hanyu PinyinPopulation (2010)[11]Area (km2)Population density (per km2)
Zhongcang Subdistrict中仓街道Zhōngcāng Jiēdào57,5506.508,854
Xinhua Subdistrict新华街道Xīnhuá Jiēdào8,8913.252,736
Tongyun Subdistrict通运街道Tōngyùn Jiēdào
Beiyuan Subdistrict北苑街道Běiyuàn Jiēdào73,42336.602,006
Yuqiao Subdistrict玉桥街道Yùqiáo Jiēdào64,48211.205,757
Luyuan Subdistrict潞源街道Lùyuán Jiēdào72,611144.00504
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 Zhèn195,19439.464,947
Liyuan town梨园镇Líyuán Zhèn140,52024.875,650
Songzhuang town宋庄镇Sòngzhuāng Zhèn104,143116.00898
Zhangjiawan town张家湾镇Zhāngjiāwān Zhèn89,273105.80844
Huoxian town漷县镇Huǒxiàn Zhèn61,413113.68540
Majuqiao town马驹桥镇Mǎjūqiáo Zhèn107,04882.001,305
Xiji town西集镇Xījí Zhèn43,24495.29454
Taihu town台湖镇Táihú Zhèn99,03982.501,200
Yongledian town永乐店镇Yǒnglèdiàn Zhèn40,241105.00383
Yujiawu Hui Ethnic Township于家务回族乡Yújiāwù Huízú Xiāng27,18465.70414
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Wenjing Subdistrict, Jiukeshu Subdistrict, Linheli Subdistrict, Yangzhuang Subdistrict, and Luyi Subdistrict were created by the Tongzhou District Government on May 11, 2020.[12]

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:

Suburban railway

Tongzhou is also served by two suburban railway lines:

Industry and tourism

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.[13][14]

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

Canal Business District in April 2020

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.[15] Canal Business District plans to develop industrial clusters of headquarters economy and wealth management.[16]

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[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

Notes

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

References

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