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The 798 Art District next to UCCA, Beijing

No. 85 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 901,435 visitors in 2025

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing

Beijing, China · City guide: Beijing

Beijing's leading contemporary art centre, in the former factories of the 798 Art District.

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Photo: Daugilas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is No. 85 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 901,435 visitors in 2025, up 125% on 2024. Founded by the collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens, it opened in 2007 in the 798 Art District in north-east Beijing.

Housed in former factory buildings, UCCA stages exhibitions of Chinese and international contemporary art, with a busy programme of talks, films and performances. It also runs sister venues outside Beijing.

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Check the official website for hours and closing days.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Main exhibitions

    Large solo and group shows in the Great Hall and the main galleries.

  • 2

    The 798 Art District

    The surrounding former electronics factory complex, full of galleries, studios, cafés and shops.

  • 3

    Factory architecture

    Bauhaus-inspired industrial buildings with saw-tooth roofs.

  • 4

    UCCA Store

    Art books, prints and design objects.

Getting there

UCCA is at 4 Jiuxianqiao Road in the 798 Art District, Chaoyang District. Jiangtai station on Metro Line 14 is about 15 minutes' walk away; taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Book tickets online or through the museum's mini-program. Check the official website for prices and hours.
Time needed
One to two hours, more with the 798 district.
Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY). Most payments are made by phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign cards; set one up before you travel and carry some cash as a back-up.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries, can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens need a visa, or can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme with an onward ticket to a third country. Rules change often, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.

Official information: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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