Beijing/Tongzhou

Tongzhou can be reached by metro line 1 with a change at Sihui Station. The stations from Beiyuan and until the terminal station are all in Tongzhou District. Or, at Sihui Station you can change to bus 322, which goes to Beiyuan and continues along the main shopping street, Xinhua Street. Finally, it is possible to go by bus 938#4 from Beijing Railway Station to Beiyuan and further along Xinhua Street.
A new fast bus route to Tongzhou has been established along Chaoyang Road. Further, the new metro line six along Chaoyang North Road is under construction and will improve the access to the new modern area east of the canal.

Some of the routes described under 'Get in' also runs through the district. Further local buses are available, but a large part of the district is not well covered by public transportation. Official taxis are scarce in the district, but unofficial 'black' taxis are everywhere at least in the central part of the district.

Buildings

• Randengfo Pagoda

  phone: +86 10 6966 1781
  address: Yongshun Road, Tongzhou District (通州区永顺路; Tōngzhōuqū Yǒngshùnlù)
  The oldest and tallest pagoda in Beijing and also the symbol and most famous landmark of Tongzhou. As of 2009, it could not be climbed but only viewed from the outside.

Museums

• Tongzhou Museum

  phone: +86 10 6954 6442
  address: 9 Xinhua West Road
  Local history museum of the eastern gateway of Beijing.

Galleries

Songzhuang Artist's Village in Tongzhou District is the newest large art area to be found in Beijing, and could be argued to be the largest concentration of contemporary Chinese artists in the world. Already back in the 1980s, many artists lived in this village. During the 1990s artists from around the country moved here and in recent years, the number of artists have grown explosively to now more than 2,000. The area is concentrated in the village itself and especially the larger Street, Renli Road (任李路; Rènlǐlù), to the east of the village. Directions: Take bus 930qujian (930路区间) from Dawanglu Metro Station (lines 1 and 10) to Renzhuangcun Station (任庄村; Rènzhuāngcūn) and walk north of Renlilu; alternatively, take the metro to Tongzhoubeiyuan (extension of line 1) and take an unofficial taxi from there (negotiate the price before you get in, it should be around ¥30).

• Artist Village Gallery

  phone: +86 10 6959 8343, +86 139 0124 4283
  address: 1 north of Renzhuang Village, Songzhuang Village, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄镇任庄村北1号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāngzhèn Rènzhuāngcūn Běi)
  This is a very large gallery, which aims at making local Songzhuang artists famous and making it possible for them to stay in the village while they build their fame.

• Eye Haunt Art Space

  phone: +86 10 8680 9908
  address: 19 Xiaopu South Street, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄小堡南街19号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāng Xiǎopùnánjiē)
  Gallery focusing on innovative emerging young artists.

• Soemo Fine Arts

  phone: +86 10 8957 9113
  address: 66 Xiaopu South Street, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄小堡南街66号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāng Xiǎopùnánjiē)
  The first foreign (Dutch) gallery in the area. Houses some of the very most famous artists in China as well as artists just breaking through.

• TS1

  phone: +86 10 6959 4127
  address: 600 m west of Liuheqiao, 102 Highway, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄102国道六合桥向东600米)
  Promotes contemporary art in all forms and media. Represents eight artists.

Parks

• Grand Canal Culture Park

  address: Tonghu Avenue, Tongzhou District (通州区通胡大路; Tōngzhōuqū Tōnghúdàlù)
  Park at the historic place where the Grand Canal strecting from Hangzhou to Beijing ended. Great place for a walk along the river and for showing your kite flying skills. The park also comprises playing grounds, cafés and a small restaurant primarily serving barbeque. Under the bridge you can roller skate during the day and dance in the evening. Except for winter, you can usually rent you own boat or try the tourist boats' 1½ hour trip on the canal if there is water in the river.

• West Lake Park

  address: Xihaizi West Street, Tongzhou District (通州区西海子西街; Tōngzhōuqū Xīhǎizixījiē)
  Small park next to the old shopping street and market and with a view to Randengfo Pagoda. Small playground for the children.

• Grand Canal Forest Park

Other

• Daying Tourism Resort

  phone: +86 10 8958 2543
  address: (百里长街东端大营村; )

• Grand Canal Golf Club

  phone: +86 10 8958 3058
  address: Hugezhuangxiang, Tongzhou (通州区胡各庄乡; Tōngzhōuqū Húgèzhuāngxiāng)

• Raying TempleAn underground music venue.

• Strawberry Fest

  address: Tongzhou Canal Park
  Music festival focusing on local bands.

• Tongzhou PoolOutdoor swimmping pool.

The main shopping street is Xinhua East Street (新华东街) and its extension Xinhua West Street with a number of department stores as well as specialty shops. For smaller shops and a narrower street try West Meizi West Street (西梅子西街). The supermarkets are primarily found south of Xinhua Street.

Market places

• Tongzhou Market

  address: West Meizi West Street (西梅子西街)
  Outdoor morning market in the old part of Tongzhou. Mostly food.

Department stores

Supermarkets

In Tongzhou District, the main restaurant street is Chezhan Road with dusins of restaurants.

• Xinbashu Shuizhuyu Sichuan Restaurant

  phone: +86 10 6952 2039
  address: 29 Chezhan Road (车站路29号; Chē​zhàn​lù​)
  Sichuan cuisine. The food is good but the service is not impressive.

• Big Pear

  phone: +86 10 6052 7880
  address: Jiukeshu West Road (九棵树西路; Jiǔ​kē​shù​xī​lù​)

• Taishouxi

  phone: +86 10 6954 1996
  address: 21 Chezhan Road (车站路21号; Chē​zhàn​lù​)
  This is one of the best restaurants on Chezhan Road. Popular with locals, especially late at night when all other places are closed.

• Daqinghua Dumpling Restaurant

  phone: +86 10 6951 6655
  address: East side of Qitian Hotel, Beiguan Roundabout (北关环岛齐天宾馆东侧; Běi​guān​huán​dǎo​ Qítiān​bīn​guǎn​dōng​cè)​

• Guo Lin Restaurant

  phone: +86 10 8088 1370
  address: 14 Chezhan Road (车站路14号; Chē​zhàn​lù​)

• phone: +86 10 8151 7673
  address: 北京近郊通州区翠屏北里西区13号楼物业会所

• Dio Café

  address: Yunjing East Road (云景东路)
  Modern café with both Western and Chinese drinks and food. However, the staff is not familiar with the Western stuff, and you seem to get the same coffee regardless of what you order.

• Riverside Café

  address: Chezhan Road (车站路; Chē​zhàn​lù​)
  Modern café with both Western and Chinese drinks and food. The best coffee in the district is served here. A nice place to hang out for a couple of hours. Free internet is available.

• Chaihuo Bar

  address: Jiukeshu West Road (九棵树西路; Jiǔ​kē​shù​xī​lù​)

Budget

• Home Inn (Beijing Bailiqiao)

  address: 304 Yongshun South St (通州区永顺南街304号; Yǒngshùnnánjiē)

• Home Inn (Tongzhou Xinhua Street)

  address: 163 Xinhua East St (新华东大街163号; Xīnhuádōngdàjiē)

• Jinjiang Inn

  address: 23 Tonghu St

Mid-range

• Nongzhao Hotel

  address: 124 North Street, Tongzhou (通州区北大街124号; Tōngzhōuqū Běidàjiē)

• Yunheyuan Hotel

  address: Songzhuangzhen, White Temple, Tongzhou (通州区宋庄镇白庙; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāngzhèn Báimiào)
  Rooms with internet against surcharge. The smallest rooms are quite small but more expensive are huge. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, night club, billiard, table tennis, bowling, tennis, indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna available. Chinese restaurant, seafood restaurant, barbeque and room service.

• Beijing Dongfang Hotel

  address: Chezhan Road, Tongzhou (通州区车站路48号; Tōngzhōuqū Chēzhànlù)

• Beijing Sun Flower Hotel

  address: Cuibing North End, 201 Jiukeshuxi Road (通州区九棵树西路翠屏北里201号; Tōngzhōuqū Jiǔkēshùxīlù Cuìbǐngběilǐ)

• Asia Pacific Garden

  phone: +86 10 8152 8822
  address: 75 Yuqiaoxi Road, Tongzhou (通州区玉桥西路75号; )
  Spacious rooms with internet, for the cheapest against surcharge. Business center, beauty salon, ticket office, billiard, table tennis, fitness, indoor swimming pool and massage available. Chinese and Western restaurants, coffee shop and room service.

• Canalfamily Hotel

  phone: +86 10 6155 6155
  address: 6 Binhe Road, Rulin, Tongzhou District (通州区儒林滨河路6号; Tōngzhōuqū Rúlín Bīnhélù)
  Four-star hotel in rural surroundings close to the Grand Canal. Downtown Tongzhou with restaurants, shops and sights is easily accessed by taxi. The rooms are without internet access. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon and ticket office available. There a many recreational opportunities here including disco, karaoke, billiard, table tennis, bowling, tennis, golf, massage, sauna, indoor/outdoor swimming pools and water sports. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as tea house and room service.

• Beijing Yunheyuan Hotel

  phone: +86 10 8158 6668
  address: (通州区运河西大街172号; Tōngzhōuqū Yùnhéxīdàjiē)
  Rooms with free internet.

Splurge

• Holiday Inn Beijing Moonriver

  phone: +86 10 8952 3737
  address: 1 Yulianghe Hebin Road, Tongzhou District (通州区月亮河河滨路1号; Tōngzhōuqū Yuèlianghé Hébīnlù)
  Next to the ancient Grand Canal near the historic place where the canal from Huangzhou to Beijing ended. This place is located at the eastern edge of Beijing close to small villages but easily accessed via the Jingtong Expressway. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke, billiard, table tennis, bowling, tennis, golf, swimming pool, massage and sauna available. Chinese and Japanese restaurants, coffee shop, tea house, bar and room service.