Top Things To Do In Beijing – 798 Art District for Chinese Modern Art
Beijing 798 Art Zone or 798 Art District (798 艺术区), is a 50-year-old decommissioned cluster of military factory buildings with unique architectural style located in Chaoyang District of Beijing (about half an hour by taxi from downtown Beijing). This place that houses a thriving artistic community filled with art galleries, art shops and quirky cafes. 798 Art Zone covers an area of 18 acres (hectares) and it is currently the heart of Chinese Modern Art, becoming the main exhibition center of Chinese art related creative shows and galleries.
After breakfast at one of the cafes here, we had a good morning stroll around 798 Art District and intrigued by some of the nice art pieces showcased in this part of the world. Big Teddy had fun posing with the various statues around the art district and I must admit, he did make some good poses…. Do you think so too?
Travel tips for first-time visitors:-
- Expect to spend half a day here by wandering around the different art galleries. You can buy a map at galleries or bars, or just wander aimlessly. Plenty of cafes & restaurants to stop for a break.
- Nearest subway station is Wang Jing South Station which is 30 minutes walk away. You can take a taxi from the subway station or if you are lazy like I did, just take the taxi all the way from the hotel to here.
- Entrance to the area is free, but some galleries and exhibition halls sell admission tickets.
- This area is open all day long. However, most shops and galleries are open from 10:00 to 18:00 daily and some may close on Monday.
- Good lunch place here is Najia Xiaoguan Restaurant (那家小馆) which serves Beijing Imperial cuisine and Peking Duck. For full review please click here.
