Tongzhou, the northern starting place of the Great Beiing-Hangzhou Canal, is the eastern gate of Beijing, China's capital.

Tongzhou's advantage of location and its role in history decide that it is not only an important part of the canal culture, but also an inseparable part of Beijing's culture.

As a local comprehensive museum of social science, Tongzhou Museum has two parts of display: "Ancient Tongzhou" is composed of 114 representative cultural relics, among which there are 2 first-class, 9 second-class and 57 third-class pieces. The display introduces the long history of Tongzhou from neolithic age to the Republic of China, with the period from Western Han to Qing Dynasty as the key. "Water Transportation and Tongzhou" mainly displays pictures hanged on the wall.

In addition, there are such cultural carriers as iron anchors, wall bricks and china pieces excavated from underground. All the relics and pictures lively show the relationship between Tongzhou and water transportation and the important position of Tongzhou in China's water transportation history.

Further Information:

Address: 9, West Street, Tongzhou District, Beijing

Bus Route: Bus No. 312, 342 to Xinhua Street
Opening Hours: 8:00---11:30; 14:00---17:30 (except Monday)

Admission Fee: RMB 3 Yuan; 1 Yuan for students; free for senior citizens, active armymen and the disabled

Tel: 8610-69546442

(China.org.cn August 25, 2005)