“Peach Orchard,” they called it long ago. Today, we stand in Taoyuan Subdistrict in Tianjin. This subdistrict has a history as rich as the soil that once grew those peach trees.
Taoyuan Subdistrict is located in the northwest of Hexi District. It sits southwest of Dayingmen and Xiawafang Subdistricts. To the north are Yuexiu Road and Machang Subdistricts. Xinxing and Wudadao Subdistricts border it to the southeast.
Once, this area was known as Taoyuan Village. Taoyuan means “Peach Orchard” in Chinese. The subdistrict got its name from this village. The village is gone but the name remains. It is a reminder of what once was.
Let’s take a quick journey through time. From 1954 to 1956, this area was divided into two parts. One part was Taoyuancun Subdistrict. The other was Qiandezhuang Subdistrict. Both were part of Tianjin’s 6th District.
Between 1956 and 1958, it became part of Hexi District. From 1958 to 1960, it was known as Qiandezhuang Subdistrict again. Then, from 1960 to 1964, it transformed into Qiandezhuang People’s Commune.
The name changed again between 1964 and 1996. It was Taoyuancun Subdistrict and Qiandezhuang Subdistrict. Finally, in 1996, it became Taoyuan Subdistrict as we know it today.
In 2010, the population of Taoyuan Subdistrict was 51,061. Imagine over 50,000 people living in just 1.4 square kilometers. That is a density of 36,000 people per square kilometer. It is a very busy place.
Taoyuan Subdistrict consists of eight communities. They all have interesting names. Zhaoyaoli is one. Qingrongli is another. Xilou Beili is also a community here. Guangshunyuan is another one. Lianrongli is another community. Yuanxing Xinli is a further community. Jinganglu is another one. Finally, there is Luolan Huayuan.
While walking through Taoyuan Subdistrict, remember its past. Think of the peach trees that once grew here. Think of the people who have called this place home for generations. Taoyuan Subdistrict is more than just a place on a map. It is a living history.