Xuanwu District, Beijing
Xuanwu District (simplified Chinese: 宣武区; traditional Chinese: 宣武區; pinyin: Xuānwǔ Qū) is a former district of the Municipality of Beijing. It was located southwest to the city center, outside of Xuanwu Gate. The district was merged into Xicheng District in July, 2010.
The district spanned over 16.5 km² in size. It was located outside the Imperial Inner City and was predominantly reserved for the lower class. Although considered wealthy once in history and was one of the older districts of the once Imperial City, Xuanwu District had undergone rapid changes in recent history. The district was also the birthplace of the famous Peking Opera. It also housed the Caishikou execution grounds of the Qing Dynasty.
Xuanwu District had a large muslim population. In the planning for the 2008 Olympic Games, many of the district's traditional hutong were destroyed.[citation needed]
There is a district with the same spelling in Nanjing, Jiangsu, though the two are both written and pronounced differently in Chinese (See Xuanwu District, Nanjing).
Popular destinations in Xuanwu District include:
- Niujie Mosque
- Fayuan Temple
- Liulichang—an antiques market
- Huguang Guild Hall
Economy
Wenfei Wang, Shangyi Zhou, and C. Cindy Fan, the authors of "Growth and Decline of Muslim Hui Enclaves in Beijing," stated in 2002 that Beijing's economic development was northward oriented and the economic development in the Xuanwu District "lags behind" Dongcheng District and Xicheng District, adjacent districts located towards the north.[1]
Education
Prior to the district's dissolution, The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University was located in Xuanwu.[2]
One school in Niujie, the Beijing Xuanwu Huimin Elementary School (S: 北京市宣武回民小学, P: Běijīng Shì Xuānwǔ Huímín Xiǎoxué), serves the Hui people living in Beijing. That was previously in the Xuanwu District.[3]
References
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- ↑ Wang, Wenfei, Shangyi Zhou, and C. Cindy Fan. "Growth and Decline of Muslim Hui Enclaves in Beijing" (Archive). Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2002, 43, No. 2, pp. 104-122. Cited page 114.
- ↑ "Contact Us." The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University. Retrieved on October 12, 2012. "Correspondence Address: 100052, No.18 Nan Xin Hua Street , He Ping Men , Xuan Wu District, Beijing, PRC China."
- ↑ Home page (Archive). Beijing Xuanwu Huimin Elementary School. Retrieved on January 10, 2014. "学校地址：北京市西城区牛街西里一区5号(北京市宣武回民小学)"
Coordinates: 39°53′39″N 116°22′57″E / 39.894262°N 116.382425°E