b'Beijing | Xiji Town,For more than 800 years, the Tongzhou District has been an important northern terminus of the Grand Canal and a Tongzhou recognised eastern gateway to Beijing. Once a thriving port and transportation hub, the advent of the railways in the 19th Site Context century meant that the importance of this area to the economy of China gradually declined. However, the General City Plan for Beijing (2016-2035) has identified the district as part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Integrated Economic Circle, and as such, is primed for accelerated development. The future growth of this eastern gateway to Beijing promises many exciting possibilities. It also presents real challenges in managing the urbanisation of largely rural areas close to Beijing Xiji TownCentral CityBeijing Sub-centerNew townsAirportMain towns group of north three county, LangfangEastern areaBeijing Sub-centre Regulatory Detailed PlanStructure plan of TongzhouSource: Beijing Municipal Government Source: Beijing Sub-Center Detailed Planning 2018Main street in village Main street in village Landscaped lane103P4-20200301-INTERNATIONAL STUDIO.indd 6 2020/3/3 20:03:58'