Tongzhou, located in southeast Beijing, is considered as the capital's eastern gate. It is at the north end of Grand Canal and the east end of Chang'an Avenue. Tongzhou is neighbored by Tianjin and Hebei province, at the core of Bo Sea Economic Circle. It is new to CBD, 13 km to International Trade Center, 20 km to Tian'anmen Square, 16 km to the Capital International Airport, and 110 km to Tianjin New Harbor. In light of the city's "Double Axis -Double Baits -Multiple Centers' layout of space in Beijing. Tongzhou lies at the east end of Chang an Avenue axis. It is supposed to take on an essential role in the function of a new district and develop into the sub-center of the capital.
Tongzhou has a long history of more than 2200 years since its foundation in Xihan Dynasty. Relics unearthed in Tongzhou indicates that human beings had lived here as early as the Neolithic Age; In 195 BC, Liu Bang, the first Emperor of Xihan dynasty, set up the county here; In 25 AD, the first year of Donghan dynasty, the emperor Liu Xiu renamed it as Lu County; In 1151 AD, when the ruling power was the Jin dynasty, the emperor--King Hai Ling set up a new feudal province and renamed County Lu as Tongzhou since the Chinese character Tong could fully describe the importance of the Great Canal in transportation; In 1914, Tongzhou was renamed Tong County; In 1997, it was, by the State Councilis confirmation, renamed Tongzhou and became one of the districts in Beijing.
