Haidian, Beijing

Haidian is in northwest Beijing.

It sits near Xicheng and Fengtai. It is a very large area. Many people live there.

Long ago, it had many ponds. This gave the place its name.

Today, it has many big schools. It also has grand gardens. You can see the Summer Palace here.

Many tech companies work here too. It is a busy place to be.

Haidian is a district in northwest Beijing.

It sits near Xicheng and Fengtai. It is a very big area. In 2020, over 3 million people lived there.

Long ago, this place was a small village. Its name comes from the land. The name means sea-like water and shallow ponds.

This is because the area had much water.

Haidian is famous for many things. It has grand imperial gardens. You can visit the Summer Palace there. It also has the Old Summer Palace. Many big schools are in this district. You will find Peking University and Tsinghua University here.

Today, Haidian is a center for tech. Many computer companies have offices here. These include Baidu and Lenovo.

The district also helps with space travel. The China National Space Administration is located here.

It is a very busy and important part of the city.

Haidian is a large urban district in northwest Beijing.

It sits next to the Xicheng and Fengtai districts. This area is the second largest in urban Beijing. It is only smaller than the Chaoyang district. Many people live in this busy place. In November 2020, the population was about 3,133,469 people. Later census data from 2025 showed 3.122 million inhabitants. The district is split into 22 subdistricts and 7 towns.

The name Haidian tells a story about the land. The name comes from the local water and geography. One part of the name means a sea-like expanse. The other part refers to marshes or shallow ponds.

Long ago, Haidian was just a small village outside the city. It was first built during the Yuan dynasty. Later, during the Qing dynasty, it became a major business area. It was famous for old shops like Quanjude and Hongbin House.

Today, Haidian is a very important place for learning. It became a district for universities in the early twentieth century. This happened when Tsinghua University and Yenching University built campuses there. Many other famous schools are located here as well. You can find Peking University and Renmin University in this area. It even has many high schools for younger students. The district is a major center for academic life.

Technology and space travel are also huge parts of Haidian. It is now the heart of the IT industry in China. Many famous computer companies have their headquarters here.

You can find the offices of Baidu, Lenovo, and ByteDance here. The district also helps humans reach for the stars. The China National Space Administration is based here.

The Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center also sits in this district.

There are many beautiful things to see in Haidian. The area is home to grand imperial gardens. You can visit the Summer Palace or the Old Summer Palace.

Other lovely spots include the Fragrant Hills and the Beijing Botanical Garden. People use many different ways to travel around the district. There are 14 metro lines and one light rail line. A commuter railway also serves the Qinghe railway station. This makes it easy to visit all these amazing places.

Haidian is a large urban district located in the northwest of Beijing.

It shares borders with the Xicheng and Fengtai districts. Within the urban area of Beijing, it is the second-largest district. Only the Chaoyang district is larger in size. As of November 2020, the district held 3,133,469 inhabitants. The 2025 census data shows a slightly lower population of 3.122 million. Administratively, the district is organized into 22 subdistricts and 7 towns.

The name Haidian provides a clue to its physical history. The name is derived from the region's water-rich geography. The character '海' (hǎi) suggests a broad, sea-like expanse. The character '淀' (diàn) refers to marshes or shallow ponds.

These features were once very common in this area. Originally, Haidian was just a small village outside Beijing's Inner City. It was first established during the Yuan dynasty.

During the Qing dynasty, the area's role changed significantly. It grew into one of the eight major business areas of the capital. It was home to famous old shops such as Quanjude and Hongbin House. In the early twentieth century, the district began its transition into an academic hub. This shift occurred after Tsinghua University and Yenching University built campuses there. The writer Lao She even described the area as an academic village for students in his novel *Camel Xiangzi*.

Following the foundation of the People's Republic, the government deliberately developed Haidian as a university district. Many Yan'an institutions moved to the area during this time. Haidian officially became an administrative district in June 1954. Today, it is a massive center for higher education. It hosts many prestigious institutions, including Peking University and Renning University. Other major schools include Beihang University, Beijing Forestry University, and China Agricultural University. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education even has its headquarters in the Beijing Olympic Building.

Beyond education, Haidian is the heart of China's information technology (IT) industry. This development accelerated during the reform and opening up period. In the late 1990s, Haidian had the highest per capita GDP of all Beijing districts. During that time, its GDP grew by double digits every year. The Zhongguancun electronics district is a central part of this economy. It hosts many software and computer-technology companies. Major global companies have a significant presence here.

Baidu maintains its global headquarters in the district.

ByteDance, the developer of TikTok, is also headquartered at Dazhongsi Square. Lenovo also keeps its global headquarters within the district.

The district is also vital for space exploration and science. The China National Space Administration is headquartered here.

Additionally, the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center serves as the central command for the Chinese space program. This center is located within the district boundaries. Other important government bodies, like the Ministry of Science and Technology, are also located here. The district's infrastructure supports these massive scientific and technological operations.

Visitors can find significant historical and natural landmarks throughout Haidian. The district contains two grand imperial gardens: the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace. Other notable sites include the Fragrant Hills and the Beijing Botanical Garden.

For transportation, the district is highly connected. It is served by 14 metro lines of the Beijing Subway. One light rail line and the Beijing Suburban Railway also provide service. Major roads like the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ring Roads all run through the area. This complex network helps move millions of people through this diverse district.