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Beijing’s 798 Art Zone – PKU Week 11

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The last warm sun rays of the short Fall season in Beijing set the perfect conditions to discover the famous 798 Art Zone, located in the east of Beijing, Dashanzi, Chaoyang district. #798 used to be a military factory producing electronics in the 1950s. Since 2002 however, The North China Wireless Joint Equipment factory buildings have been refunctioned into an industrial Bauhaus-style art zone featuring various musea, event facilities and an abundance of stylish coffee places. Bauhaus is German and stands for a simple hangar-style construction with basic functional design structures, often times a Bauhaus is the place where architects gather to design other buildings.

#798 Beijing Art Zone
#798 Beijing Art Zone

 

The urban vibe of 798 is supported by many cultural organizations, designers and artists who started to co-habit this creative space to unleash their artistic energies. For years, the inhabitants relentlessly worked together on restyling the factory into a new concept, showcasing contemporary Chinese art culture. The result definitely can be seen, 798 has developed into one of China’s most influential art hotspots, frequently hosting fashion design shows, art festivals and international exhibitions. The grounds are covered in factory buildings, abstract sculptures, old steam machinery. 

#798 Art District, Beijing
#798 Art District, Beijing

 

If you are ready for a cup of coffee after walking around the area, it is time to put those Chinese skills to practice. Every sentence counts! 😉 Tip: AT CAFE’s owner Huang Rui proudly serves authentic italian coffee.

By the way, apart from showcasing the designs of Chinese artists, 798 even has a North Korean studio called Mansudae featuring the art works of North Korean artists. Strolling around the 798 Art Zone is highly recommended and can make a full inspirational day-trip with its many facilities open for discovery.

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Stay tuned for next week’s blog post on my biggest communication failures so far as well as a brand new episode of odd things I discovered in Beijing ~  下次见  [xià cì jiàn].

In the meantime, don’t forget to have a look at the CS Instagram to the right for getting a preview most recent experiences in Beijing!

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