798 Art District Beijing: Galleries, Hours & Getting There
Beijing's contemporary-art quarter in a Bauhaus-era factory — free to walk, galleries and street art everywhere, and an easy half-day if you want a change from the imperial sights.
By China for Travelers Editorial · Updated
What 798 is
The 798 Art District (798艺术区) is Beijing's best known contemporary-art quarter, built into a sprawling disused electronics plant — the former state Joint Factory 718, built in the 1950s in a clean Bauhaus / Soviet industrial style. Artists moved into the cheap, light-filled workshops from the early 2000s, and the area grew into a dense mix of galleries, studios, design shops, cafés and outdoor sculpture. The appeal is the combination: serious contemporary art and exhibitions alongside saw-tooth factory roofs, old slogans on the walls, pipework and street art. It is the polar opposite of the imperial sights and a good antidote to temple fatigue.
What to do there
- Gallery-hop — wander in and out of the spaces; most are free, and the line-up changes constantly, from big institutions to tiny project rooms.
- The industrial architecture — the Bauhaus workshop halls, chimneys and pipework are half the photo appeal; look for the preserved Maoist-era murals and slogans.
- Street art & sculpture — murals, installations and large outdoor sculptures fill the lanes and courtyards.
- Cafés, design shops and bookstores — plenty of places to break, and good for design-led souvenirs.
Pick up a district map at the entrance or check what is showing before you go — the bigger ticketed exhibitions are worth timing your visit around if a name you know is on.
Getting there & planning
798 sits in Dashanzi, Chaoyang District, in the northeast of the city and well away from the historic centre. The nearest metro is Line 14 to Wangjing South, then a short bus or taxi to the Jiuxianqiao Road entrance; many visitors just take a DiDi door-to-door. Because it stands alone, plan it as its own half-day rather than trying to bolt it onto a downtown sightseeing day.
When to go
Aim for a Tuesday-to-Sunday afternoon, when the most galleries are open — a lot of spaces close on Mondays. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant for the outdoor wandering that makes 798 fun; in winter you will spend more time ducking between indoor galleries and cafés.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 798 Art District free?
- Walking the district — the streets, outdoor sculptures, murals and most galleries — is free. A handful of larger ticketed exhibitions and special shows charge an entry fee (typically ¥30–120). So you can spend a whole afternoon there for nothing, and only pay for the specific big shows you choose.
- When is 798 open, and is anything closed?
- The district is an open neighbourhood you can walk any time, but the galleries keep roughly 10:00–18:00 hours and many close on Mondays. Go on a Tuesday-to-Sunday afternoon to find the most spaces open. Cafés and shops stay open later.
- How long do you need at 798?
- Two to four hours for a good wander — longer if you are into contemporary art and stop at several gallery shows. It is a place to graze rather than tick off: browse galleries, photograph the industrial architecture and street art, and stop for coffee.
- How do I get to 798?
- It is in the northeast of Beijing (Dashanzi, Chaoyang District), away from the historic centre. The closest metro is Line 14 to Wangjing South, then a short taxi or bus; many visitors simply take a DiDi. Because it is out on its own, plan it as a standalone half-day rather than tacking it onto downtown sights.
Related
- Beijing city guide — the full 6-tab plan.
- Beijing hutongs — the old-city counterpoint to 798's modern art.
- Forbidden City guide — the imperial heart of the city.
- Beijing subway guide — Line 14 to Wangjing South.