Outdoor art and palaces
798 Art DistrictIf you like art, you’re going to love the 798 Art District in Beijing. Even if you don’t like art, you’re still gonna love it. Example, when we travel, I have to drag my art-challenged husband to art museums. After visiting 798 on our last trip to Beijing, he informed me he wants to spend two days exploring the complex the next time we’re in Beijing.
An old factory complex has been turned into a thriving art colony that takes its name from the street number of the factory. 798 encompasses several blocks and is filled with studios where you can meet and see the artists at work, yuppie restaurants and coffee houses, boutiques and lots of outdoor statuary. We really enjoyed the outdoor statues! If you’re looking for avant-garde and trendy Chinese art, 798 is the place to go. How to get there: It’s easiest to get to 798 by taxi, as public transportation involves several subway and bus transfers and you still end up taking a taxi. |
Prince Gong's PalacePrince Gong’s Palace is a lovely garden with ducks swimming in a pond, rockeries and garden paths to meander through. It’s one of those places I’d always wanted to go, but somehow never got around to until our last trip to Beijing. It was slightly overcast the day we visited, but the loveliness still shone through.
The palace was originally a home for minor members of the imperial family, but took the name of one of the last residents, Prince Gong. This was also the home of Pu Yi’s father. It’s very popular with the Chinese, but we never saw any foreigners when we were there. It’s a good place to chill out when you’re feeling overwhelemed by Beijing. Prince Gong’s Palace makes a good place to visit after leaving Beihai Park. It’s about a 20-minute walk through old neighborhoods. Just follow the directional signs. |
Contact Cheryl
Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.