The 798 Art Zone is extensive and, without preparation, can easily become a long walk past closed doors. It occupies sites at 2 and 4 Jiuxianqiao Road in Chaoyang District. Entry to the district is free, although individual institutions may charge admission.
It is best to choose one principal institution first. UCCA Center for Contemporary Art presents large exhibitions and public programmes. Other options include 798CUBE and several major gallery halls. Current exhibitions should be checked before travelling.
Many galleries open at around 10:00 and close between 18:00 and 19:00. Monday is usually the weakest day because some institutions are closed. The outdoor district remains accessible, but a visit without open exhibitions reveals only the industrial architecture and public installations.
The district covers more than half a million square metres and contains hundreds of cultural and commercial organisations. It is not realistic to walk through all of it during a short stop. A good route combines two exhibitions, a passage through the principal factory halls and time for a smaller space discovered along the way.
The nearest connections continue to change as the metro develops. UCCA lists Gaojiayuan on Line 12 and Wangjing South or Jiangtai on Line 14. The final section can be completed on foot, by bus or by car. Weekends bring heavier traffic and limited parking.
The combination of programme and place makes 798 most interesting. Visitors should therefore do more than photograph outdoor objects. The district makes sense after entering a former production hall where contemporary art meets the factory's original structure and scale.
