Tongzhou prepares for National Day holiday visitors

Beijing's Tongzhou district, the capital's administrative sub-center, is preparing for an influx of visitors ahead of the National Day holiday, which stretches from Oct 1 to 8 this year due to coinciding with Mid-Autumn Festival.

Ahead of the holiday, Tongzhou has been highlighted as a focus of cultural development. Delegates attending the recent Beijing Culture Forum toured the district, where several new institutions have opened since 2023. These include the Beijing Performing Arts Center, the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing and the new Beijing Library, all located within walking distance of each other.

Older sites in Tongzhou are also drawing attention. The Lighthouse Pagoda, originally built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty (557–581) and rebuilt in 633 under the Tang Dynasty (618-907), stands near the Confucian Temple, established in 1298, and the Ziqing Palace, built in 1899. Together they represent the traditions of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

The district also sits at the meeting point of five rivers, including a branch of the historic Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. In recent years, a night market has developed along the Moon River, where canal boats and food stalls are popular with visitors.