Introducing to 798 Art Zone, 798 Art Zone Guide, 798 Art Zone Travel Guide

Article from Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism

 

More popularly known as the 798 Art Zone, the Dashanzi Art District (Dashanzi Yishu Qu) is located in an old factory complex now converted into galleries, restaurants, and nightlife spots. Whether or not you love art, this is a great place to see some of cooler aspects of Chinese culture. New contemporary art exhibitions are held regularly – from oil paintings and installation art to ceramics and sculpture. It’s best to go to 798 Art Zone late on a weekend afternoon, when you can browse the galleries until it gets dark, and then have dinner at one of the hip restaurants or coffee shops. 798 Factory has now been developed into a new attraction for Beijing Day Tours. The unique feature of the area as well as the demand of art has encouraged this type of Beijing Holiday Packages to be highly welcomed by both local and foreign visitors.

 

This complex of Bauhaus-style factories was built in 1953 under the auspices of the East Germans, and on some of the walls it’s still possible to see fading political slogans from the Cultural Revolution. When business declined in the 1980s, the factories began pulling out, and by the late 1990s, many of the buildings were vacant. It was perfect timing. Around the same time, a group of daring independent artists, who had ruffled the feathers of the cultural czars, were kicked out of their commune at the Old Summer Palace, where they had been based for some ten years. Around 2000, a number of Beijing’s best artists flocked to 798 Art Zone, attracted by the large spaces, cheap rents, and ample natural light pouring through the huge ceiling windows. The artists were soon followed by hip coffee shops and Western and Chinese restaurants.

 

Quick Facts on 798 Art Zone 

 

Name: 798 Art Zone 

Location: 4Km from Downtown Beijing

Best Time to Visit: All Year

Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 Hours

Opening Hours:10:00 - 17:00 

Admission Fee: Free