Beijing Activities The 798 Art ZoneBeijing Activity: What to do in Beijing.
The 798 Art Zone is located in the Dashanzi area, to the northeast of central Beijing. It is the site of state-owned factories including Factory 798, which originally produced electronics. The 798 Art Zone has become a significant enclave of contemporary artists and connoisseurs that spills out into the surrounding area.
Beginning in 2002, artists and cultural organizations began to divide, rent out, and re-make the factory spaces, gradually developing them into galleries, art centers, artists' studios, design companies, restaurants, and bars.
The 798 Art Zone became a "Soho-esque" area of international character, replete with "loft living," attracting attention from all around. Bringing together contemporary art, architecture, and culture with a historically interesting location and an urban lifestyle, "798" has evolved into a cultural concept, of interest to experts and normal folk alike, influential on our concepts of both urban culture and living space.
Step into the avant-garde and wander an eclectic mix of galleries, art centers, performance-art spaces, bookshops, and cafes, all innovatively housed within the building and grounds of a decommissioned factory. Lofty ceilings and industrial design make Factory 798 the perfect space for up-and-coming and well-known artists to design and show their work.
The original 798 was a once state-owned industrial plant established in the 1950s. The plants were abandoned in late 1990s.
Inspired by the SOHO area, which provided a refuge for artists in New York City in the 1960s and 70s, some artists moved to the warehouse lofts in 798 in 2000.
Cheap rent, quiet surroundings rapidly turned the area into a paradise for artists. More artists moved in and established dozens of art studios, galleries as well as book stores, cafes and restaurants.
798 Art Zone doesn't have a gate or a boundary. When you see a big red post written with "798", you know you have arrived at the art paradise.
Walking along the road, doodles on a low brick wall give you the first sign of the artistic flavor of the area. Heading forward for another 200 meters, you arrive at the key area of the art zone.
It might not compose a complete and lively artistic area without cafes and restaurants. Don't worry. 798 has many of them.
You can kill a couple of hours reading books or just chatting with friends in the leisurely and artistic cafes. Of course, you can also have a good meal in the well decorated restaurants.
The 798 Art Zone is more and more popular among the artists from all over the world today.
Add: No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Mon.
Tel/Fax: +86 10 8459 9357 or 13511077098
