Chaoyang District 朝阳区

Setting and landscape

The district is long and narrow, about 28 kilometres north to south and 17 kilometres across at its widest, sloping gently from north-west to south-east. The Tonghui River (通惠河), dug under the Yuan, crosses it and served as a grain-transport canal through the Yuan, Ming and Qing. Other rivers include the Wenyu (温榆河), Ba (坝河), Liangma (亮马河) and Xiaotaihou (萧太后河).

History

Under the Yuan, Ming and Qing the area was split between Daxing (大兴) and Wanping (宛平) counties and counties under Tongzhou (通州). In February 1949 it was divided among several of Beiping's newly drawn districts and two Hebei counties; the Eastern Suburbs District (东郊区) was renamed Chaoyang in May 1958, and the Capital Airport area was transferred to it in 1959. The district government lists seven national protected sites, among them the Dongyue Temple (东岳庙), the Altar of the Sun (日坛), the Chaoyang section of the Yuan city wall of Dadu (元大都城墙遗址), and the Yongtong Bridge (永通桥) on the Grand Canal. The Dongyue Temple fair is one of 27 intangible-heritage items in the district listed at municipal level or above, alongside bow-and-arrow making at Juyuanhao (聚元号) and Beijing rabbit-god figures (兔儿爷).

What to see

The 798 Art Zone (798艺术区) in the Dashanzi area of Jiuxianqiao (酒仙桥) gathers more than 400 galleries, studios, design firms and shops, in a setting where, in the words of the district culture and tourism bureau, industry and art sit side by side. The Olympic Park, at the northern end of Beijing's central axis, spreads over 1,135 hectares: a 680-hectare forest park in the north, the main 2008 venue zone in the middle and completed venues and reserved land in the south; the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park (中华民族园) also falls within its bounds. Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园), a 4A scenic area, is known as the 'green lung' of eastern Beijing.

Among the markets and streets the district government singles out are the Panjiayuan antiques market (潘家园旧货市场) south-west of Panjiayuan Bridge on the East Third Ring Road, the Silk Street clothing market (秀水), and the Sanlitun (三里屯) bar street. The China Film Museum (中国电影博物馆) and the National Agricultural Exhibition Center (中国农业展览馆) are also here.

Getting oriented

Chaoyang borders Shunyi and Changping to the north, Tongzhou to the east, Fengtai and Daxing to the south, and Haidian, Dongcheng and Xicheng to the west. Wangjing (望京), Maizidian (麦子店), Yayuncun (亚运村), Sanlitun and Jianwai (建外) have international communities.

Highlights

• 798 Art Zone 798艺术区: More than 400 galleries, studios and cultural businesses in Jiuxianqiao.
• Olympic Green 奥林匹克公园: 1,135-hectare park at the north end of the central axis, main site of the 2008 Games.
• Ritan Park 日坛公园: Site of the Altar of the Sun, a national protected site.
• Chaoyang Park 朝阳公园: 4A scenic area described as the green lung of eastern Beijing.
• Panjiayuan Antiques Market 潘家园旧货市场: Market in six zones, among them ground stalls, classical furniture and stone carving.