Exploring Beijing’s Hidden Art Walk Destinations

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The invention of the point and click camera and high-quality smartphones reignited a hot topic in the art community: is photography really an art form? As a photographer myself, I believe it’s less about what equipment you use and more about why you are taking photos and what you are trying to say.

For some, photographs capture something deeper, to represent an idea not immediately obvious. At first glance a photo can appear to mean one thing and then, after time, it becomes much more. For others, a photo is a form of reportage: a moment in time, frozen forever. These pictures may not be the most beautiful in the conventional sense, but they can say a lot about society and where it is heading at any moment. Then there are those who take snaps to show their friends or to record where they have been.

One thing all these have in common is an element of self-expression. You may not have the greatest camera but how you frame a shot will be your choice. It is you unleashing your own creativity whether you realize it or not. It shows others how you view the world. So, let’s face it, maybe that is art, at least to some extent.

Either way, Beijing is a city full of photographic possibilities for enthusiastic amateurs and experienced photographers alike. You just have to have a look around to discover the perfect photo walk.

Mocha Art Centre

A walk around the Aigongchang Cultural Industrial Park offers many different shooting possibilities. There are new galleries and workshops under construction and local hipsters are moving in.

The Mocha Art Centre has a unique golden entrance inside a funky staircase. There are now so many keen young people wanting to take photos here that you have to reserve a spot at least one day in advance in order to go inside and climb the stairs. The outside corridor is also popular with those looking for a trendy, fashion shoot-style vibe.

Address: 27 Xi Dawang Lu, inside Aigongchang Cultural Industrial Park (the Mocha Art Centre is a stand-alone building) 西大望路27号爱工厂科技产业园摩卡集团B座
Price: Free

Second Ring Road City Greenway

This is a narrow park hugging the waterway around the southeast corner of the Second Ring Road. Here the opportunities for good shots are probably best in the morning with the sun behind your back, and while it’s less known for fun family activities, it’s full of retired people who give you a glimpse of the old Beijing lifestyle.

As the path bends around there is also an elevated spot to photograph the Dongbianmen Watchtower from across the water and you can see trains pulling into and out of Beijing station.

Address: 9 Chongwenmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District 东城区崇文门东大街9号
Price: Free

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Hua’s Restaurant

Human movement is one of the great themes in photography and can often be found where you least expect it. Hua’s Restaurant is famous for Peking duck, but it’s also a great place to people watch. Waiters can be seen carrying dishes across the road in the back hutong to other parts of this multi-section restaurant; kitchen staff are busily preparing food behind large windows. And then, there are the acts!

Every night at around 8.15pm a series of traditional Chinese performers take to the small stage. Some of the acts have a food element like plate spinning or noodle stretching, as well as traditional face changing and “kung fu tea” acts. Even the building itself has a large Beijing courtyard feel and it is hard to come away from here without a few great pictures.

Hua’s Restaurant has multiple locations all around the city but the best one for photography is just a short walk from Beixinqiao Station.

Address: 5 Dongzhimen Neidajie (150m west of Dongzhimen Bridge) 东直门内大街5号(东直门桥往西150米路北)
Tel: [phone]

CBD View

Beijing’s iconic CBD is full of spectacular buildings, but it can actually be hard to find a good spot to capture the scale and beauty of Beijing’s business heart. In short, you might have to shoot it from a bit of a distance. Many photographers go looking for such vantage points at around a 2km radius from Guomao — that way you are not too far away but also not too close.

If you do find a good place to snap the city you can be sure that your friends will be asking where you took it from because everyone with a camera is trying to take an image that represents the gleaming new Beijing.

Address: 16 Yong’anli Dongjie, Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区建外大街永安里东街16号

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Photos: Qin Luyao 

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