Tongzhou has a long history of more than 220 years since its foundation in Xihan Dynasty. Relics unearthed in Tongzhou indicates that human beings had lived here as early as the Neolithic Age; In 195 BC, Liu Bang, the first Emperor of Xihan dynasty, set up the county here; In 25 AD, the first year of Donghan dynasty, the emperor Liu Xiu renamed it as Lu County; In 1151 AD, when the ruling power was the Jin dynasty, the emperor--King Hai Ling set up a new feudal province and renamed County Lu as Tongzhou since the Chinese character Tong could fully describe the importance of the Great Canal in transportation; In 1914, Tongzhou was renamed Tong County; In 1997, it was, by the State Councilis confirmation, renamed Tongzhou and became one of the districts in Beijing.