Dongcheng, Beijing
Dongcheng District (Chinese: 东城区; pinyin: Dōngchéng Qū; lit. 'City-East District') is a district of the city of Beijing. It covers the eastern half of Beijing's urban core region, including all of the eastern half of the Old City inside of the 2nd Ring Road with the northernmost extent crossing into the area within the 3rd Ring Road. Its 40.6 km2 (15.7 sq mi) area is further subdivided into 17 subdistricts.
Dongcheng
东城区 | |
|---|---|
From the top left clockwise: Hutong, Yonghe Temple, Tiananmen Square, and New Beijing Poly Plaza | |
Dongcheng District in Beijing | |
| Coordinates: 39°55′23″N 116°24′40″E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Municipality | Beijing |
| Township-level divisions | 17 subdistricts |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40.6 km2 (15.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2020 Census) | |
| • Total | 708,829 |
| • Density | 17,000/km2 (45,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
| Postal code | 100010, 100061 |
| Area code | 0010 |
| Website | http://www.bjdch.gov.cn/ |
Settlement in the area dates back over a millennium. It did not formally become a district of the city until the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911. The name Dongcheng was first given to it in a 1958 reorganization; it has existed in its current form since a 2010 merger with the former Chongwen to its south.
Dongcheng includes many of Beijing's major cultural attractions, such as the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. More than a quarter of the city's Major National Historical and Cultural Sites are inside its boundaries, with a similar percentage of those protected at the municipal level. Tiananmen Square is also in Dongcheng, along with other popular destinations for domestic and international tourists such as the bars and nightlife in the hutongs of Nanluoguxiang and the shopping in Wangfujing. Over three-quarters of the district's economic activity is in the service sector.