The Inspirational 798

Established over ten years ago, 798 Art Zone lured much of China's and even the international art community to travel to Beijing. Set in the Dashanzi District, 798 sprang up from the remnants of a 50 year old factory complex. Originally, most of the buildings were used for the production of military electronics. In contrast, 798 now acts the bohemian hub of Beijing with a labyrinth of art studios, galleries and cafes lining its streets. Fortunately, visitors would be pleased to know that the community-oriented outlook of 798 means that the majority of galleries are free of charge. Apart from artwork, 798 also hosts many fashion shows together with corporate events. These events have presented famous names such as Sony, Toyota and Cindy Crawford. Hopefully, these facts alone should encourage you to book Beijing flights for your next vacation. With numerous factories and warehouses, the buildings certainly reflect the industrious past of the place. The fact that an artistic regeneration project has occurred in the area does, in itself, send out a statement of change in Beijing's history. Comparisons have been made with other famous artistic centres such Greenwich Village in New York. Interestingly, parallels can be drawn between the area's international past and present. In 1951, for example, the workers at this factory complex gave rise to the first Chinese trade delegation to East Germany with a view to importing electronics. Whilst at present, a different trade is happening, but with many international artists and art collectors visiting the site instead. Innovation has been at the forefront of the complex, ever since its design in 1952 to appeal to the factory workers. The buildings, for example, have been designed to optimize natural light by providing large interiors and ensuring that windows face north. In light of a more contemporary approach, dotted around 798, you can find various sculptures of all shapes and sizes which further signify the shifting dynamics of the place. In particular, the random nature of 798 can be seen by some of the zany, (yet eye-catching), sculptures around the complex streets. Such include three huge red dinosaurs in a cage and a man heroically scaling a building. The art zone of 798 is recognised for its avant-garde style and some of the works do exhibit a shock-factor. For this reason, it is best to visit with an open-mind and it may not necessarily be suitable for a family outing if you have young children. Beside avant-garde, the complex does however display more mainstream works of art with some exquisite pieces pertaining to ancient China. Tourists seeking specialist galleries might like to consider; the Long March Space (for multimedia exhibits) and the 798 Photo Gallery (which displays creative photography and Cultural Revolution prints). Once you have pottered around the galleries, you wish to sit back and admire 798 from one of its several cafes or look for some 'alternative' purchases at 798's gift shops. Unlike most attractions in the city, the 798 Art Zone is not the easiest location to access. One option for tourists is to go to Sanyuanqiao Station on line 10 of the subway and then take a taxi. From there, taxi prices fetch around 10RMB. To make your stay more satisfying, check out some local China hotels here. from China Travel Blog http://blog.chinatraveldepot.com

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