In the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Fengtai District was of the ancient Beijing-the suburb of Ji Castle. Till the 2nd year of Tang Jianzhong (A.D.781), the west of Ji County was Youdu County. The center of the present Fengtai District (Lugouqiao Township and Huaxiang Township) was of Youdu County; and the east (Nanyuan Townshi) was of Ji County.
In the 1st year of Liaohuitong (A.D. 938), Ji County was renamed Jibei County, the area in the north of Dahongmen of Kainan Township was the 1st year of Beitai (A.D. 1012) and Youdu and Jibei were renamed Wanping and Xijin. In the 1st year of Jinzhenyuan, Xijin was renamed Daxing. Meanwhile, the area of Nanyuan Township in the east of the present Youanmen was of Daxing County, the area in the south of Beihong Village in the west was Liangxiang County and most of the area in the center was of Wanping County.
In the Ming Dynasty, Nanyuan Township in the east of the present Youanmen was of Daxing County, the north of Wangzuo Township in the west and Dahuichang were of Fangshan County, and the area in the south of Wangzhuang-Guaicun was Liangxiang County.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the area in the east of Fengtai Town and the north of Dahongmen were of the area in the urban area. In June, 1928, the east of Fengtai District was south suburb, and the central and west areas were of Wanping County, Fangshan County and Liangxiang County.
In June, 1950, approved by the State Council of the Central Government after being submitted by the municipal government of Beijing City, section 18 of Beijing City (Changxindian) whose organizational system cancelled was combined into section 15. In August of the same year, the Government of Beijing City decided to combine name of suburb and the urban area, the former section 14 (Nanyuan) was renamed section 11, and section 15 (Fengtai) was renamed section 12.
In July, 1952, section 11 was renamed Nanyuan District, and section 12 was named Fengtai District.
At the end of the year 1990, within the territory of the District, the westernmost point Maanshan (east longitude 116°4′) and the easternmost point Dongsidaokou Village (east longitude 116°28′) spans 35Km; the southernmost point the south boundary of Hezhaoyun Village (north latitude 39°46′) and the northernmost point Beixinkai Canal of Qingta Village (39°54′) spans for 14Km.
In the year 2010, Fengtai District regulated administration over 10 streets, towns and townships. Of them, Lugouqiao, Huaxiang and Nanyuan townships were established with section offices, and the management system of “one set of personnel, and two organizational systems” is applied.