Didn’t Hu family construct a prominent building here? Now look around. We are standing in Hujialou Subdistrict. It is a vibrant part of Beijing’s Chaoyang District. Hujialou Subdistrict is located south of Sanlitun. It is also located Tuanjiehu Subdistricts. To the west is Balizhuang Subdistrict. Jianwai Subdistrict is to the north. Chaowai Subdistrict lies east of here.
Let’s dive into the story behind the name Hujialou. This area was once called Huanggufen. This means “tomb of royal aunt”. The royalty buried here remains a mystery. Around the end of Qing dynasty, the Hu family built a tall building. It could be seen from far away. Over time, it became known as Hujialou. This translates to “Building of Hu family.”
Hujialou has seen many changes over the years. In 1956, Xiaozhuang Subdistrict was established. It was part of East Suburban District. By 1959, Balizhuang Subdistrict was added to Xiaozhuang. In 1960, it became a commune. Balizhuang Subdistrict then became its own commune. In 1966, the commune changed its name to People’s Commune of Hujialou. By 1968, it was renamed Dazhailu Subdistrict. Finally, in 1975, it became Hujialou Subdistrict again.
As of 2021, Hujialou Subdistrict includes eleven communities. These communities have unique names like Jintaili and Xiaozhuang. There is also Guandongdian and Hetaoyuan. You can find Hujialoubei and Hujialounan here too. Don’t forget Jintai and Dongdaqiao. The communities of Guandongdian, Xinjie, and Jintong are also part of this area.
In 2020, the population of Hujialou Subdistrict was 53,018. This gives it a density of 19,000 people per square kilometer. Hujialou covers an area of 2.8 square kilometers.
Hujialou is not just a historical area. It is a vital part of modern Beijing. In February 2022, Hujialou Subdistrict was named a Beijing Municipal Health Street. This shows its commitment to the well-being of its residents.