Haidian () is a northwest urban district of Beijing, bordering Xicheng and Fengtai.
It is in area, making it the second-largest district in urban Beijing area (after Chaoyang), and is home to 3,133,469 inhabitants as of November 2020. According to the latest 2025 census data, the population of Haidian District is 3.122 million.
Haidian is divided into 22 subdistricts and 7 towns.
According to historical accounts, the name Haidian reflects the region's water-rich geography: the character 'æµ·' (hÃÂi) evokes a broad, sea-like expanse, while 'æ·Â' (diàn) refers to marshes or shallow ponds, both of which were once characteristic of the area.
Haidian was originally a village outside of Beijing's Inner City. It was first built in the Yuan dynasty and became one of the eight major business areas of the capital during the Qing dynasty and was the seat of such old shops as Lotus White, Quanjude and Hongbin House. The famed Old Summer Palace and Summer Palace, two grand imperial gardens are also among its reputed features. It became a university district after the building of the Tsinghua University and Yenching University campus in the early twentieth century. It is mentioned in Lao She's novel Camel Xiangzi as an academic village for students. After the foundation of the People's Republic, it was deliberately developed as a university area, with many of the Yan'an institutions moving there. It officially became an administrative district in June 1954. Since the reform and opening up, it has become the heart of China's IT industry. In the words of Time magazine:
During the later half of the 1990s, out of the Beijing districts, Haidian had the highest per capita GDP. During that period the GDP of Haidian (1) District grew by double digits each year.
The northwestern stretches of the 3rd Ring Road, 4th Ring Road, 5th Ring Road and 6th Ring Road all run through the area.
Haidian is currently served by 14 metro lines of the Beijing Subway and one light rail line:
Haidian is served by one commuter line operated by Beijing Suburban Railway (BCR).
The China National Space Administration has its headquarters in the district. The Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center which serves as the central command center for the Chinese space program is also located in the district.
The Ministry of Science and Technology is located in Yangfangdian, neighboring the China Central Television building (completed in 1986) within the district. The China National Intellectual Property Administration has its headquarters in Haidian, near Jimen Bridge. The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) was formerly located in Zhongguancun.
The People's Liberation Army Military Music Hall is located in the district.
The Ministry of State Security has a number of major facilities in the district.
In 2017, the regional GDP was 592.48 billion yuan, with a GDP per capita at 170.8 thousand yuan (25293 US dollars).
A central part of Haidian's economy, the Zhongguancun electronics district, hosts the Beijing offices of many software and computer-technology companies.
Institutions of higher education in Haidian include:
The Beijing Municipal Education Commission (), the local education authority, has its headquarters in the Beijing Olympic Building.
Institutions of secondary education
Private schools include:
The Chinese Ice Hockey Association, which governs ice hockey and bandy in China, has its offices at 56, Zhongguacun South Street in Haidian District.
Haidian has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwa). The average annual temperature in Haidian is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around .
Since 1992, Haidian District has signed official papers and established Sister City relationship with 14 cities and districts from 10 countries of 4 continents. Some sister cities are shown below:
South America
North America
Europe
East Asia