Beijing’s cultural and creative neighborhoods
Beijing has developed several neighborhoods for its cultural and creative workers. These venues are frequented by numerous artists, collectors, media workers and ordinary people who appreciate creativity.
Each of these destinations makes a good trip for a spring day. We lead you there with the following guide.
Arts Zones in the Downtown
Fangjia Hutong NO. 46
Instead of being located in the outskirts of Beijing like many other arts zones, Fangjia Hutong NO. 46 lies in the central area of Beijing near the Lama Temple. Its history dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Before the anti-Japanese war, it was an iron company run by the British. After the Japanese occupied Beiping (Beijing’s name during that period), it became a military factory for the Japanese.
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After New China was founded in 1949, the military factory was transformed into the China Machine Factory, with an auditorium, office building, workshops and a boiler room. Most of the buildings have high ceilings, providing abundant spaces for artists. The courtyard features a theatre, bar, design workshop, café, theme restaurant, and toy shops. Also in this neighborhood are popular places such as Paper Talk store, the exhibition hall called Y-3, the NAPA bar and the Yunnan restaurant Aimo Town.
Fangjia Hutong NO. 46 also has spaces for film production, performances and a creativity lab.
Zangjingguan Hutong NO. 11
Zangjingguan Hutong NO. 11 also is near the Lama Temple. Formerly a children’s clothing factory, it now holds more than ten enterprises in the fields of publication, web games, comics, animation and film.
Arts Zones around the old industrial area of Chaoyang District
Now a large district in Northeast Beijing, Chaoyang was a wilderness before 1949. The government planned to build it up as a “big-industry city”. As a result, small workshops were developed into many state-owned factories, forming a series of complexes. The former electronics complex was developed into an art zone, including the most well-known one, 798. The whole area also features other art zones, including D•PARK751 design square and Caochanghdi.
798 Arts District
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798 is situated inside alleys number 2 and 4 on Jiuxianqiao Road. Usually compared with New York's Greenwich Village, it houses a thriving artist community. The buildings are used by gallery owners, artists and visitors. There are numerous cafes and art galleries where visitors can browse and purchase paintings and pottery.
D•PARK751 Design Square
D•PARK751 Design Square is located in the same factory area. Many visitors mistakenly take two high chimneys as the symbol of D•PARK751. In fact, you need to go further until you see a train station named 751.
In the 1990s, this place was a gas factory. Today, fashion design plays a leading role here. D•PARK751 has provided Chinese designers with their own fashion-show hall. Many distinguished designers have moved their workshops here.
Caochangdi Arts
To the northeast of 798 is Caochangdi Arts. It used to be a large-scale subway test base. As the rent in 798 increased, some artists chose to settle here, creating a new arts area. The “Dream Park” is an eye-catching feature. It is said that Hollywood has a “Dreamworks” and Beijing has a “Dream Park”.
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By walking through the red rust gate of Caochangdi, you find a Chinese fairytale right in front of your eyes. All architecture is typical Beijing Siheyuan. (Beijing's traditional courtyards) In its cafes, you can sample “four season” dishes served in order from spring to winter, and can make wine and tea by yourself. In the theatre, films can be screened for a personalized party. Many visitors believe this is the most unique party space in Beijing.
This is also a village where artists’ dreams come true. The original project proposal of the popular “Supergirl” show was completed here.
“Caochangdi Art District is regarded as ‘the spiritual promised land for Chinese contemporary art’ by a great many Chinese people. Following 798 Art District, Caochangdi…has become another Holy Land for Chinese contemporary art,” wrote The Peoples’ Daily.
