798 Art Zone, Beijing (must see)

798 Art Zone, also called Dashanzi Art District, is a collection of old military factories, now 50 years old, turned into a lively art community in Beijing's Chaoyang District. Often called 798 Art District or Factory 798, note that it's part of a bigger complex, initially known as the 718 Joint Factory. Central to this area is the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, which serves as an anchor and is renowned as the most prominent and frequented venue in this locality. Notably, this center has become a primary host for events like the annual Beijing Queer Film Festival and Beijing Design Week.

German architects were given the task of designing this zone. They embraced practicality influenced by the Bauhaus movement, contrasting with the elaborate Soviet style. This sparked initial disagreements with Russian consultants. The design prioritized functionality, creating spacious indoor areas that maximized natural light. Arches supported the ceiling, which curved and angled diagonally along rows of windows. This pattern was repeated throughout, forming the iconic sawtooth roof. Surprisingly, despite Beijing's northern location, north-facing windows were chosen to minimize shadows and boost illumination.