798 Art Zone

Introducing 798 Art Zone
More popularly known as the 798 Art Zone, the Dashanzi Art District 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. 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.

798 Art Zone Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: 798 Yishuqu 798艺术区
• Best Time to Visit: All year around 
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 2 to 4 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Chinese Culture, Academic Exchange, Art Galleries
• Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 
• Entrance Fee: Free (some galleries may charge an entrance fee)
• Address: No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

What to expect at 798 Art Zone
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. The following are some interesting shops for visitors to explore:

• 798 Art Factory: This old Bauhaus building remains its original appearance and basic features to the greatest extent. Now it mainly provides venues for press conferences, fashion shows, art exhibitions and other activities.

• Beijing Tokyo Art Projects (BTAP): The first gallery at 798 Art Zone, established in 2002. It is aimed to seek and promote young artists from China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries. As far, many exhibitions themed in architecture, sculpture, oil painting, and performance art have been held here.

• Beijing Season Gallery: The largest professional gallery at the Zone, promoting modern Experimental Art of China and South Asian.

•Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA): a famous art center found in 2007 with coverage of 8,000 square meters. It organizes a series of seminars, art movie playing, performances, art festivals and various exhibitions every year. It also contributes a lot to academic research and publications.

• VINCENT CAFÉ: A classic French family-style restaurant. The owner is French who is specialized in French cuisine with creative dishes.

How to get to 798 Art Zone
• Take bus No. 401, 402, 405, 445, 909, 946,955, 973, 988, 991 Dashanzi Lukou Nan Station.
• Take Metro Line 10 to Liangmaqiao Station(Exit C). Then take bus No.402, 405 to the Zone.

Additional travel advice on 798 Art Zone
• The zone area opens all day, but most galleries open after 10:00 and close before 17:00. 
• It is best to go to 798 Art Zone late afternoon, when you can browse the galleries until it gets dark, and then have dinner at one of the hip restaurants or coffee shops.