CitySavage

798, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

798 Facotry (Dashanzi Art District) located in suburb area of Beijing China. The odd name comes from along with its history of being a millitary factory. (In the old days, those millitary factories were all named with just numbers to hide their real identity, for security and organization purposes.) After over 50 years, those eastern German style big spacious factories buildings shifted their mission "slightly", with more and more artists moving in. Those artists, successful or starving, turned this place into a rising, trendy art zone. Later, bookstores, restaurants, bars blossom. In fact, this area becomes so diverse that some compare it to the East Village in New York City. Yes, we had a village now located far more "east" to the Eeast Village.
More interesting oberservation is that the area still have factories producing actively. The real factory may just be next door to a Studio or Gallery. It is amazing how those people manage to co-exist. The contrast between the two are huge. It is so bold and finally becomes extremely inspiring. The area, the factory itself becomes an art piece. The same fascinating feeling comes from the MOMA PS1(Public School No.1). It is now an art gallery but used to be the first public school in the States.
It was summer and scotching hot when I visited the factory area. Yet I still saw a considerable number of people walking around the area for those galleries and studios. So I can imagine how crowded it would be when the Dashanzi Art Festival every May.