Tianhe District () is one of the eleven districts of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. In Chinese, the name Tianhe literally means "River of Heaven", which is also a Chinese name for the Milky Way. It is bordered by Yuexiu District on the west, Baiyun District on the north and Huangpu District on the east. Haizhu District is on its south, though they are separated by the Pearl River.
Tianhe became a district in the 1980s as the city expanded its size. Back then, it was east of Dongshan District (which was merged into Yuexiu in 2005) and retained a suburban or even rural atmosphere. A majority of colleges and universities in the city were located in the district. However, Tianhe District has seen a sharp decline in arable land at an average rate of per year due to urbanization since 1991. Tianhe has since developed into one of the most desirable areas in Guangzhou.
Symbolic landmarks of Guangzhou located in Tianhe District are: Citic Plaza, Guangzhou International Finance Center, Guangzhou Opera House, and the Guangdong Museum. The 6th and 9th of The National Games of the People's Republic of China, and the 2010 Asian Games were also held in Tianhe District, Guangzhou.
History Prehistoric population settled in what is now Longdong Subdistrict () in the Neolithic period. Eastern Han tombs were discovered in Tianhe. During the Song dynasty, Tianhe area was called Dashuixu (). The area of modern Tianhe District was part of Panyu County for more than two thousand years. The area was gradually put under Guangzhou's administration between 1937 and 1958. By the end of the Republican Period, there were two districts in Tianhe area, namely Shahe () and Shipai (). In 1951 both districts were merged into the newly established Baiyun District, while five years later Baiyun was further merged with Huangpu and Xinjiao Districts to form suburban district (). In 1960 Jiaoqu was dissolved and the area consisting of modern Tianhe became Huangpu District, however it was reestablished two years later. In 1985 part of Jiaoqu was split, and Tianhe District was established then.
In 1987 Tonghe Town () was put into Baiyun District. In 1992 Yangji Cun was put into Dongshan District. By 1994, Kemulang (), Yushatan (), and Fenghuang () Farms along with Shadongcun () and Erduicun were placed under Tianhe's jurisdiction. In 2000, former Xintang (), Mubei (), Lingtang (), and Yushu () Farms were also placed under Tianhe and the farms gradually became subdistricts.
Administrative divisions
Name Simplified Chinese Pinyin Guangdong Romanization Population (2010) Area (km2) Changxing Subdistrict 66,098 13.21 Chebei Subdistrict 102,787 5.60 Fenghuang Subdistrict 19,534 22.99 Huangcun Subdistrict 29,501 6.17 Liede Subdistrict 22,522 3.10 Linhe Subdistrict 59,732 3.80 Longdong Subdistrict 70,055 11.70 Qianjin Subdistrict 59,700 4.90 Shadong Subdistrict 29,522 2.16 Shahe Subdistrict 42,814 1.26 Shipai Subdistrict 177,198 4.30 Tangxia Subdistrict 177,864 7.42 Tianhenan Subdistrict 62,912 2.08 Tianyuan Subdistrict 54,769 4.03 Wushan Subdistrict 131,795 10.59 Xiancun Subdistrict 51,284 4.07 Xinghua Subdistrict 68,139 4.28 Xintang Subdistrict 41,207 14.95 Yuancun Subdistrict 81,831 5.37 Yuangang Subdistrict 30,610 3.23 Zhuji Subdistrict 52,552 10.01
Developments
The first big project built in the district during the 1980s was the Tianhe Sports Center when the city was selected to host the Sixth National Games in 1986. The complex includes a stadium of 65,000 seats, a gymnasium and an indoor swimming pool. Its construction had a lasting impact on the development of the district. Soon other projects followed and rice fields gave way to residential complexes called xiaoqu (meaning "little districts"). The construction of xiaoqu began in the mid and late eighties and most of them had residential buildings of no more than 10 stories. Each floor was kept to no more than four units due to the lack of elevators since they would increase the construction cost. Also, due to the sheer number of residential buildings – some xiaoqu had more than 20 residential buildings – a lot of land was needed and thus converted.
The building of Guangzhou East railway station in 1990 further contributed to the growth of the district. The old Guangzhou Railway Station is to the west and was the terminus for trains to and from Beijing and Hong Kong. To relieve the traffic, the East Railroad Station was built and is now the terminus for trains to and from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
As the district developed, the size of xiaoqu became smaller since land became more valuable and expensive. Most of the new xiaoqu now only consist of four to six residential buildings but each can contain 30 floors or more since the growth of district attracted big developers where the cost of construction (such as elevators) was no longer an issue. Also, taller residential buildings gave rise to taller office buildings.
South of the Sports Center and north of the Zhujiang River is Zhujiang New Town, home to some of Guangzhou's newest and most iconic buildings .
Several venues used for the 2010 Asian Games are located in Tianhe District.
Economy Guangzhou Science City Kung Fu restaurants has its headquarters in the district"Company Overview of Kungfu Catering Management Co., Ltd." Businessweek. Retrieved on August 17, 2014. "16Floor, Gaosheng Building No. 109 Tiyu West Road Tianhe District Guangzhou, 637399 China" Jinyi Cinemas has its headquarters in the districtHome page. Jinyi Cinemas. Retrieved on January 3, 2015. "广州金逸影视传媒股份有限公司 地址：广州市天河区珠江新城华成路8号礼顿阳光大厦4楼 邮编：510623" Chow Sang Sang's Mainland division, Chow Sang Sang (China) Company Limited"CHOW SANG SANG: Shining Return after 62 Years" (). City of Guangzhou. Retrieved on May 9, 2014. Google has its Guangzhou office in Teemtower (天河城大厦) of Teem Plaza."Google locations." Google. Retrieved on May 25, 2016. "Google Guangzhou L30, Unit 3007, Teemtower, Teemmall, 208 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510620" All Nippon Airways operates its Guangzhou Office in the district. Since May 3, 2011 it has been located in Tower A of Victory Plaza. On May 2, 2011, and prior, it was located in the 2605 CITIC Plaza."ANA City offices Asia." All Nippon Airways. Retrieved on August 13, 2011. "Guangzhou Office [Until May 2nd, 2011] 2605 CITIC PLAZA 233 Tianhe North Road, Tianhe Ward, Guangzhou [From May 3rd, 2011] Room 1403, Tower A, Victory Plaza, No. 103, TiyuXi Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510620" Renren.com has its Guangzhou office in China Shine Plaza (耀中广场)."Contact Us." Renren Corporate. Retrieved on November 19, 2012. "Room A4001, China Shine Plaza, Linhexi Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou" – Chinese: "广州市林和西路9号耀中广场A塔40层4001–4003" 56.com was headquartered in Huajingyuan (华景园) in Tianhe Software Park (天河软件园) when it was an independent company."联系方法." 56.com. March 23, 2006. Retrieved on November 18, 2012. "公司地址：广州市天河区中山大道89号天河软件园华景园区B栋6楼南01房" R&F Properties has its head office in Zhujiang New Town. Agile Property is in Tianhe District. - Chinese address: "中国广东省广州市天河区珠江新城华夏路26号雅居乐中心33楼" Hopson Development was previously in Zhujiang New Town.
Diplomatic missions The Consulate General of the United States, Guangzhou is in Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District."Security Message about Recent Protests at Emei Mountain (July 8, 2014)" (). U.S. Consulate in Chengdu. Retrieved on May 17, 2015. "43 Hua Jiu Road, Zhujian New Town Tianhe District Guangzhou 510623"
Education Many of the city's colleges and universities are located in the district. They include: Guangzhou Sport University PLA Institute of Physical Education, Guangzhou Jinan University Guangdong University of Technology South China Agricultural University South China University of Technology South China Normal University
International schools in the district include: Japanese School of Guangzhou"Japanese School of Guangzhou." City Weekend. Retrieved on January 12, 2015. "No. 10, Fengxin Road, Tianhe District 广东省广州市天河区风信路10号" Huamei-Bond International College"Home." Huamei-Bond International College. Retrieved on September 28, 2015. "地址：广州市天河区华美路23号" Guangzhou Nanfang International School"Contact Us." Guangzhou Nanfang International School. Retrieved on September 28, 2015. "ADD: No. 1 South Industrial Park, Yinglong Rd, Longdong, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 地址：广州市天河区龙洞迎龙路龙山工业园南一号 PC：510520" – Card for taxi drivers stating name and address in Chinese
Former international schools: American International School of Guangzhou in The Greenery ()"家私电器齐全 尊贵小区 ." Xingye Real Estate Agency (兴业地产). Retrieved on September 16, 2016. "怡苑位置：怡苑小区（The Greenery）位于天河北体育东路的金利来后面。" () – Neighborhood is stated as "怡苑" – Address: "地址： 体育东路华阳街55–79号 "Home page. American International School of Guangzhou. September 1, 2000. Retrieved on September 16, 2016. "55 Hua Yang Street, Ti Yu Road East, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510620, People's Republic of China" École Française Internationale de Canton in Favorview ()"Présentation." École Française Internationale de Canton. Retrieved on January 17, 2015. "Adresse : Favor View, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510641, China" – Map
Transportation Besides the Guangzhou East railway station (referred to by locals as simply "East Station"), Tianhe is also the terminus for several Guangzhou Metro lines, and one line goes through it:
Metro Tianhe is currently serviced by eleven metro lines operated by Guangzhou Metro:
– Tiyu Xilu ( ), Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou East Station (, ) – Yantang (), Guangzhou East Station (, ), Linhexi (), Tiyu Xilu ( ) – Tianhe Coach Terminal (), Wushan, South China Normal University (), Gangding, Shipaiqiao, Tiyu Xilu ( ), Zhujiang New Town () – Huangcun (), Chebei (), Chebeinan () – Zhujiang New Town (), Liede, Tancun, Yuancun (), Keyun Lu, Chebeinan (), Dongpu, Sanxi – Shaheding, (), Tianpingjia, Yantang (), Tianhe Coach Terminal (), , Botanical Garden, Longdong, Kemulang, Gaotangshi
– (), (, ), , ( ), , (,), () - (, ), , (), – – (, ), , Huangcun (), , – Linhexi (), Tianhe Sports Center South, Tianhenan, Huangpu Dadao, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Huacheng Dadao, Guangzhou Opera House, Haixinsha
Notable buildings
CITIC Plaza, an 80-story, skyscraper completed in 1997, situated between Tianhe Sports Center and Guangzhou East Railway Station. It was the tallest building in China then, and now it ranks as the 3rd tallest building in Guangzhou, 8th in China, 11th in Asia, and 16th worldwide. Pearl River Tower, a skyscraper in Zhujiang New Town, which is the first zero-energy building in China. It is owned by China Tobacco."The winds of change", World Architecture News Guangzhou International Finance Center, a skyscraper. It was built between 2005 and 2010. Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, currently the tallest building in Guangzhou. TeeMall (天河城), a massive and well-renowned shopping centre opened in 1996 and situated within the Tianhe District.
See also Asteroid 188867 Tin Ho, named after the Tianhe District
References
External links
Official Site