798 Art Quarter and Wangjing

The 798 Art Quarter is located in Dashanzi, an area to the northeast of Central Beijing and now home to some of Beijing's best art galleries and most influential artists. Formerly a large State-owned enterprise built by Russia in early 1959, the old factory complex now provides a context for contemporary art to flourish in modern China.

 

Artists and cultural organizations began using the space in 2002 for design, photography, publishing, exhibitions, performance and art. Rented space in the factory area was converted to individual workshops and exhibition spaces and independent studios for artists working variously in the fields of art, architecture, music and fashion.

 

The 798 Art Quarter and culture project has generated worldwide interest and should definitely not be forgotten on your Beijing art tour.

 

Worth seeing in the Quarter, 798 Photographic Gallery, The Long March Space, Chinese Contemporary Gallery and the Vibes Club, not forgetting Cafe Vincent.

 

Wangjing is packed full of things western if visitors to the city temporarily tire of China and look for home comforts. Near the Lido Hotel that houses Starbucks, a European delicatessen and western bars and restaurants, cafes like Sculpting in Time offer a fused mixture of Chinese and western cafe culture in a pleasant relaxed environment. The food is good there too! Art areas including Feijiacun and Suojiacun are also located in this area. Avant-garde artists and their artworks are exhibited here.

 

Antique shops, health and recreation centres and the Beijing United Family Hospital are all located in close proximity in the area around the centre of Wangjing. Jewellery stores, interior design and framing shops also close by.