Contemporary art meets communist history at this thrilling enclave of international galleries installed within China's model factory complex of the 1950s. Known as the 798 Art District (798 艺术区, Qī Jiǔ Bā Yìshù Qū; cnr Jiuxianqiao Lu & 798 Lu, 酒仙桥路798路的路口), most of Beijing's best galleries are here, staging shows in gorgeous Bauhaus workshops that once produced munitions and electronics. Toss into the mix stylish cafes and restaurants, art shops and an elevated walkway offering views of the industrial architecture, and you can easily spend half a day here.
The "718 Joint Factory," as 798 was originally known, was built with East German expertise in the 1950s, using materials imported from East Germany via the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way into the factory itself. Preservation orders have saved the old factory station, tracks and a steam loco, along with giant industrial chimneys, workers' dorms and, most importantly, the light-filled Bauhaus factories and workshops.
The art district is an impressively large complex, making it hard for first-time visitors to know where to start. The best way to orient yourself is to find the UCCA gallery in the center; from here, the core block where most of the other big galleries are located extends to the north. Other names to look out for include M Woods, the Long March Space, BTAP and the Mansudae Art Studio from North Korea.
Wherever you go, keep an eye out for murals, graffiti, stencils, sculpture – 798 is a vibrant playground of public art and installations.
Expect to pay an admission fee of around ¥60 for most of the big galleries.
To get here, take subway line 14 to Wangjingnan, from where it's a 1.5km walk or short cab ride to the south entrance. Most of the galleries are closed on Mondays.
