Xicheng District is a district in Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

, China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

. Xicheng District spans 32 square kilometres, making it the largest portion of the old city (inside the 2nd Ring Road), and has 706,691 inhabitants (2000 Census). Its postal code is 100032. Xicheng is subdivided into 15 subdistricts of the city proper of Beijing. The former Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng on July 2010.

The Xidan

Xidan

Xidan is a major traditional commercial area in Beijing, China. It is located in the Xicheng District.The Xidan commercial district incorporates the Xidan Culture Square, North Xidan Street, as well as many supermarkets and department stores...

 commercial district, Finance Street (Jinrongjie), Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Beihai Park is an imperial garden to the northwest of the Forbidden City in Beijing. First built in the 10th century, it is amongst the largest of Chinese gardens, and contains numerous historically important structures, palaces and temples. Since 1925, the place has been open to the public as a...

, Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park

Jingshan is an artificial hill in Beijing, China. Covering an area of more than 230,000 m², Jingshan is immediately north of the Forbidden City on the central axis of Beijing. As a result, it is administratively part of both the Xicheng District and the Dongcheng District...

, Shichahai

Shichahai

Shichahai is an historic scenic area consisting of three lakes in the north of central Beijing in China. They are located to the north-west of the Forbidden City and north-west of the Beihai Lake. Shichahai consists of the following three lakes: Qianhai , Xihai and Houhai...

 and Zhongnanhai

Zhongnanhai

Zhongnanhai is an area in central Beijing, China adjacent to the Forbidden City which serves as the central headquarters for the Communist Party of China and the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The term Zhongnanhai is closely linked with the central government and senior Communist...

 are within its jurisdiction. The popular Houhai

Houhai

Houhai is a lake and its surrounding district in central Beijing, one of the three parts of Shichahai. In recent years it has become famous for nightlife because it is home to many popular restaurants, bars, and cafes....

 bar area is also in Xicheng Precinct. Before the communist takeover, most royalties and aristocrats resided in the precinct. The oldest Catholic church in Beijing, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing , also known as Nantang to the locals, is a historic Roman Catholic Church located in Beijing, China...

 is located in Xicheng.

Economy

COSCO

COSCO

China Ocean Shipping Company, known as COSCO or COSCO Group, is one of the largest liner shipping companies worldwide. It is a government owned company of the People's Republic of China...

 has its headquarters in the Ocean Plaza building in Xicheng. The Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua News Agency

The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...

 has its headquarters in the Dacheng Plaza (大成大厦 Dàchéng Dàshà) in Xicheng. In addition Bank of China

Bank of China

Bank of China Limited is one of the big four state-owned commercial banks of the People's Republic of China. It was founded in 1912 by the Government of the Republic of China, to replace the Government Bank of Imperial China. It is the oldest bank in China...

 and the State Grid Corporation of China also have their headquarters in Xicheng.

Important areas in Xicheng District

• Beijing Zoo
  Beijing Zoo
  The Beijing Zoo is a zoological park in Beijing, China. Located in the Xicheng District, the zoo occupies an area of 89 hectares , including 5.6 hectares of lakes and ponds . It is one of the oldest zoos in China and has one of the largest animal collections in the country...
  
  
• Drum Tower and Bell Tower
• Fayuan Temple
  Fayuan Temple
  The Fayuan Temple , situated in the southwest quarter of central Beijing, is one of the city's most renowned Buddhist temples.- History :The temple was first built in 645 during the Tang Dynasty by Emperor Li Shimin, and later rebuilt in the Zhengtong Period of the Ming Dynasty. The temple...
  
  
• Huguang Guild Hall
  Huguang Guild Hall
  The Huguang Guild Hall in Beijing is a renowned Beijing opera theatre. Built in 1807, and at the height of its glory, the Huguang Guild Hall, along with the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre was known as one of the "Four Great Theatres" in all of Beijing...
  
  
• Miaoying Temple
  Miaoying Temple
  The Miaoying Temple , also known as the "White Stupa Temple" , is a Chinese Buddhist temple on the north side of Fuchengmennei Street in Xicheng District of Beijing....
  
  
• Niujie Mosque
• Liulichang
  Liulichang
  The Liulichang is a famous district in down-town Beijing that is known for a series of traditional Chinese stone dwellings housing selling various craftwork, artistry, and antiques...
  
   -- an antiques market
• Prince Gong's Residence
  Prince Gong Mansion
  The Prince Gong's Mansion or Gong Wang Fu Museum is located in the western part of central Beijing, China, north of the Shichahai Lake...
  
   (Gongwang Fu)
• Xinjiekou

External links

• Official website of Xicheng District Government
• Photo Gallery of Houhai area Includes 20 high quality photographs
• Photo Gallery of Qianhai area Includes 20 high quality photographs