Beijing’s reputation is anchored in imperial history, but the city is equally compelling as a contemporary cultural capital. The 798 Art Zone and Sanlitun represent the modern city — galleries, bars, independent design, international dining, and a creative energy that has evolved alongside China’s economic transformation.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
798 Art District (798艺术区)
What and where
Located in the Chaoyang District (朝阳区) factory complex built in the 1950s by East German engineers, the 798 Art Zone (七九八艺术区) transformed from abandoned industrial space to China’s most important contemporary art hub in the early 2000s. Hundreds of galleries, studios, and creative businesses occupy the Bauhaus-influenced factory buildings.
Location: Jiuxianqiao Road (酒仙桥路), Chaoyang District. Take metro Line 14 to Wangjing South, then a 10-minute DiDi.
Hours: Most galleries open 10am–6pm, closed Mondays. The district itself is open 24 hours; outdoor sculpture and café areas are accessible at any time.
The galleries
Pace Beijing (佩斯画廊) — the Beijing outpost of New York’s Pace Gallery. Major international and Chinese contemporary artists. Usually free admission, professional lighting, world-class presentation.
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (尤伦斯当代艺术中心, UCCA) — the most respected non-commercial contemporary art space in China. Ambitious exhibitions, rigorous programming, a bookshop, and a café. Admission ¥50–¥100 depending on exhibition.
Arrow Factory — a tiny project space showing experimental art in a former arrow-making factory. Admission free.
Long March Space (长征空间) — one of Beijing’s most established galleries, supporting Chinese contemporary art since 2002.
White Space Beijing (空白空间) — critically acclaimed gallery representing significant Chinese artists.
What else is in 798
Sculpture park: large-scale works are installed throughout the district’s courtyards and along the main avenue. Free to see at any time.
Coffee and lunch: 798 has excellent independent café culture. The Space coffee bar (空间咖啡) and several others in the main gallery buildings serve excellent coffee in interesting architectural settings. Budget ¥35–¥55 per coffee.
Shopping: design objects, art books, limited edition prints, and independent fashion. More interesting than mall shopping.
Street photography: the light falling through the Bauhaus skylights onto steel machinery and concrete floors makes 798 one of Beijing’s best photography locations.
Best time to visit
Tuesday–Thursday, 10am–1pm: quietest. Weekends bring crowds; opening times of new exhibitions draw heavy traffic.
Open weekend events: 798’s Art Zone holds open studio weekends in spring (April/May) and autumn (October/November) — studios otherwise closed to the public open for visiting.
Sanlitun (三里屯)
Overview
Sanlitun is Beijing’s international hub — foreign embassies, international restaurants, luxury retail, and nightlife concentrated in a few blocks in Chaoyang District. It’s simultaneously the most cosmopolitan and most expensive part of Beijing.
Location: Near Tuanjiehu Park, Chaoyang District. Take metro Line 10 to Tuanjiehu (团结湖) — a 5-minute walk.
Sanlitun Village (三里屯Village) / Taikoo Li
The major retail complex — open-air lanes of glass and brick connecting independent boutiques and international brands. Different from a conventional mall; the layout encourages exploring.
What to shop for:
- Nike, Adidas, Supreme flagship stores
- Japanese and Korean fashion brands
- MUJI, Uniqlo
- Independent design boutiques in the “South Village” section
Apple Store: the Apple Store at Sanlitun is an architectural landmark — the cylindrical glass structure opened in 2008 and has become one of Beijing’s design icons.
The Bar Street (酒吧街)
Sanlitun’s original identity was as the bar street for foreign diplomats and expats. The old “Bar Street” (北侧) has gentrified significantly, but the area around Gongti Beilu (工体北路) still has Beijing’s densest concentration of nightlife:
- Modernista: cocktail bar with Cuban flair; excellent bartenders
- Paddy O’Shea’s: the de facto expat hub; sports on TV, imported beer
- LOCAL (局气 Jú Qì): excellent traditional Beijing-cuisine restaurant with a modern sensibility
Workers’ Stadium area (工人体育场)
The Workers’ Stadium (工体) recently completed a major renovation and now hosts international concerts, football matches, and large events. The surrounding ring of bars and restaurants is the densest nightlife cluster in Beijing.
Gulou / Drum Tower Creative District
The hutong neighbourhoods around the Drum Tower (鼓楼) and Bell Tower (钟楼) host Beijing’s most interesting independent creative businesses:
What’s here
Fangjia Hutong (方家胡同) — a lane converted from industrial courtyard to creative studios, small galleries, independent bars, and performance spaces. Slower-paced than 798, more neighbourhood-feel.
Baitasi Art District (白塔寺) — around the White Pagoda Temple in Xicheng District: an ongoing urban regeneration project with small galleries, café studios, and restored hutong architecture.
Guozijian Street (国子监街) — Beijing’s former imperial academy street, now bookshop-lined with a gentler pace than other tourist areas.
Creative spaces in hutong lanes
Look for:
- Independent bookshops in courtyard houses (e.g., Poem Space 诗空间 on Gulou Xidajie)
- Rooftop bars with Bell Tower views (Mao Mao Chong is famous; now others)
- Small live music venues hosting indie folk and jazz
751 D·PARK (751设计广场)
Adjacent to 798, the 751 D·Park is a newer creative district focused on design, fashion, and technology events. It hosts:
- Beijing Design Week (September)
- Fashion Week events
- Tech and startup showcases
Less gallery-focused than 798, more event-driven. Worth passing through if visiting 798 — the two are 10 minutes’ walk apart.
Practical Information
Getting to 798 from central Beijing
- DiDi: most direct from Wangfujing area (20 minutes, ¥30–¥45)
- Metro: Line 14 to Wangjing South (望京南), then 10-minute DiDi (~¥12)
- Bus: 401, 418, 621 buses stop at Jiuxianqiao (酒仙桥) — check Amap for current stops
Spending a day
A full day in the Chaoyang cultural triangle:
- Morning: 798 galleries (open from 10am)
- Lunch: 798’s café district
- Afternoon: 751 D·Park → drive/DiDi to Sanlitun Taikoo Li
- Evening: dinner in Sanlitun area → bar street
Budget: gallery admission ¥0–¥100 + meals ¥100–¥200 + DiDi transport ¥50–¥80
Last updated: May 2026 · Gallery programmes change with exhibition schedules. Check individual gallery websites for current shows.