Dashanzi, Contemporary art district in Dashanzi, Beijing, China
Dashanzi is a contemporary art district built within former electronics factories in Beijing. The area contains nearly 200 galleries, studios, and exhibition centers housed in Bauhaus-style buildings with distinctive architectural features like large skylights and curved sawtooth roofs.
The site began in the 1950s as Joint Factory 718, a partnership between China and the Soviet Union to manufacture electronics for military and civilian use. When production declined in the 1990s, the industrial buildings were gradually repurposed as an arts destination.
Artists from around the world have made this place their home, filling old factory buildings with studios, galleries, and performance spaces. Walking through, you see how creative people have transformed industrial spaces into a thriving arts community.
Most galleries typically open from morning to early evening, so plan to arrive early to have enough time for exploring. The district is best reached by public transport followed by a short ride to the entrance.
The buildings retain original German design elements from their factory days, including north-facing windows and curved sawtooth roofs. These industrial features have become part of the visual identity and help tell the story of the site through its architecture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
