A short stroll, mostly spent indoors, through the 1950s electronics factories turned into Beijing's main contemporary art district: UCCA, galleries, design shops and cafes along 797 and 798 Roads, ending at the 751 D-Park design plaza in a former industrial site.
Best time: Tuesday to Sunday, from late morning (UCCA opens 10:00-19:00, closed Mondays; many galleries also close on Mondays).
The route, stop by stop
- 1UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
The district's leading museum, at No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, in the 1950s factory halls designed by East German engineers in a Bauhaus-influenced style. 60 min
- 2798 Art District
Over 400 galleries, studios, design shops and cafes along 797 and 798 Roads. 60 min
- 3751 D-Park
751 D-Park Beijing Fashion and Design Plaza: old industrial plant turned into designer studios and event spaces. 40 min
More walks in Beijing
- Central Axis north: Jingshan to the Drum and Bell Towers
- Shichahai lakes loop: Yinding Bridge, Yandai Xiejie and Houhai
- Nanluoguxiang side hutongs to the Lama Temple
- Dongsi hutongs: Zhihua Temple to Dongsi Sitiao
- Qianmen, Dashilar and Yangmeizhu Xiejie to Liulichang
- Temple of Heaven at 7 am: east gate to Circular Mound
- Beihai to Jingshan at sunset
- Summer Palace: East Palace Gate, Long Corridor and Seventeen-Arch Bridge
- Niujie and Fayuan Temple: the Hui quarter and Xuannan hutongs
- Ming City Wall Relics Park to the Ancient Observatory