Visit Songzhuang Art District: Part 2 - Art Factory Road
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Last month, we introduced you to Xiaopu Village, a quaint little destination just 45 minutes from downtown Beijing. But Xiaopu is only a small part of the area that makes up the Songzhuang Art District! Today, we bring you Part Two of our series on Songzhuang and look at the fascinating Art Factory Road!
This abridged post is taken from our blog on the Cultural Keys website. To see the full article there, please click 阅读原文 (Read More) at the bottom of the page, or visit our website www.culturalkeys.cn
Click to Read More -
Visit Songzhuang Art District:
Click to read about Xiaopu Village and how to get to Songzhuang Art District!
Note that all places claim to be open 7 days a week but in practice, since they are all run by individuals, they may not be! Most places open until 7-8pm in the summer, but close by 5 during the winter.
On the south side
(right side if you're walking from Xusong Lu):
Wisdom Textile Art (智慧布艺）
On the right side of the archway you'll find a lady selling pretty cloth and bamboo items, mainly table wares, at the entrance to a small row of houses. She hand-makes all of the items herself for very reasonable prices!
Miyun Dazhong Organic Mountain Products (密云大忠有机山货）
Next door to Wisdom Textile Art. Despite the name, this is pretty much a standard corner shop that sells some fruit and vegetables, but they also sell a wide range of dried gourds in all sizes for all your dried gourd needs! (Did you know that gourds are very auspicious in China due to their resemblance to the lucky number 8? They were widely used in antiquity - for example, for storing medicine and as flotation devices!)
Deng Shan Zhi's Gallery (邓善之画馆）
Down at No. 60 find the gallery / studio of Deng Shan Zhi, a painter of traditional Chinese Shanshui ('mountain and water') paintings. He welcomes visitors to go in and have a look around at his beautiful work. Many of the shops and galleries in Songzhuang display work by several different artists, but all the paintings here are done by Deng himself.
Ten Yuan Shop（10 元店）
At lucky No. 88 this is a claustrophobic's nightmare - a shop packed to the rafters with clothing and shoes, but dedicated bargain hunters might find some gems here! Even more entertaining are the adorable English signs posted around the shop by the owner! PS. Not everything is 10 yuan!
On the north side
(left side if you're walking from Xusong Lu):
Zijin Clothing (子衿服饰）
This shop has a wide selection of linen and cotton qipao (cheongsam) and other clothing for men and women in traditional styles. Feel free to bargain with the owner (the prices are not what is shown on the tags!).
Zhifeng Tang (芝风堂）
At number 15, easily recognizable from the red stamps outside, is a seal cutter (of which there are several on the road so shop around if you're serious about buying). Choose your carved stone seal from his large collection and then have him engrave your name or whatever you desire on the underside.
Antiques in Europe (A&C 欧洲古董）
Feel like you're on the set of Pride and Prejudice by enjoying a cup of tea or coffee in this charming cafe and shop selling replica European antique furniture.
Yabai Merchant (崖柏客)
This unique shop selling root art is at number 25. Owner Zhao Bei Liang selects roots to polish up and carve to highlight their natural beauty. The tradition of carving roots, either to make practical items or art objects, dates back at least 2500 years in China. Yabai is the Chinese name for the tree Thuja sutchuenensis, a type of conifer that grows in Sichuan and is critically endangered. According to Zhao, the wood you'll find in his shop is only from trees that died of natural causes, but we can't verify that so buy at your own discretion.
Be sure to follow the Instagram hashtag #宋庄 ('Songzhuang') to see more from the area! And of course let us know if you have any questions. Feel free to add AJDonnelly on WeChat (or scan the QR code below) or email us at info@culturalkeys.cn. We're always happy to help!
And that's Part Two of our four-part series on Songzhuang Art District. Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back soon for the next part! We look forward to seeing you here soon!
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Cultural Keys is an expat-run Chinese culture school that helps you not just see China, but experience it too, by offering the most authentic classes in traditional Chinese culture available in Beijing.
Cultural Keys helps people better access, understand and enjoy life and traditional culture in China, through information, classes, products and services. From cultural classes, to corporate training, whatever your reason for interest in this fascinating country, Cultural Keys can offer you an in-depth and immersive way to experience it.
At our culture centre in Xiaopu Village, in the east of Beijing, we organise unique classes and events to help people experience the most authentic traditional Chinese culture possible.
We currently offer custom classes in:
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Xiaopu Village, Songzhuang
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