You may already know about the Dashanzi's 798 Art Zone with many contemporary art galleries. But the Songzhuang artist village is different - located in Tongzhou District, east suburbs of Beijing, is the most famous and biggest artist community in Beijing. Now nearly more than 2,000 artists live in Song Zhuang, which is seen as synonymous with the Chinese avant-garde not only in China but also in other countries.

In 1995, when the Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) artist community was dismantled, a handful of the original artists moved to Songzhuang Village in Tongzhou County in pursuit of bigger studio space, cheaper rent cost and a quieter environment to continue their creative works. Over the next five years, drawn by the village’s idyllic charm and beautiful scenery, more artists decided to move into the area, thus confirming Songzhuang’s position as the largest artist community in China. Today, Songzhuang is home to roughly 2,000 artists, including painters, sculptors, poets, writers, art critics, and photographers. They are scattered in several villages of Songzhuang, such as Xiaopu Village, Renzhuang Village, etc. The artists are relatively young and famous for their contemporary and radical artworks. Most of them are freelancers and their artworks are shown in 798 galleries and galleries and museums in Europe and US.

Obviously the village houses are not enough for these rapidly increasing artists. Then more and more newly constructed rental studios have been established from 2006-2009 by the local government for the newly arrived artists. A modern and high class Songzhuang Art Museum is established near the lake, boasting the best village level one in the world.

CCC arranges appointments with a handful of different artists who will allow you into their farmer's home style studios or modern rental studios and discuss modern Chinese art with you. The artists CCC selected engage in a variety of art forms, from modern oil painting, sculpture (wood, clay and bronze) to other modern styles.

It will be 50 minutes' drive from Beijing.
Meet at the China Culture Center to board the coach.