Located due East of the Central City of Beijing , outside the 2nd Ring Road the Chaoyang District is one of the cities' newer Districts, now part of the Greater and growing Metropolis of Beijing. Founded in the 1950's and 60's during the Cultural Revolution days, Chaoyang started its days as a mainly a soul-less urban-industrial wasteland in which grey and dull 1960's, and later 1970's and 80's appartment and Office Building Blocks set the Tone. A tone that was only broken by the Industrial Plants that were scattered across the District and the Arrival of the Sanlitun Embassy compounds bringing some life into the area. After 1989 the Chaoyang District has undergone a major and continuous transformation, almost flowing in pace with the development of China and China as an Economic Power. First slowly and eratic, since the 1990's picking up in Pace. Now, Chaoyang District is the Central Business District of Beijing, the Capital of The World's Fastest Growing Economic Power. Chaoyang is still an ugly Place, but dotted with a Multitude of Office Highrises, home to Modern Theaters, the Lufthansa Shopping Mall, Workers Gymnasium and last but not least the China International Exhibition Center , the Main Exhibition Centre of the City. Chaoyang is home to many Fine Hotels and the heart of Beijing Business. The latest good news about the Chaoyang District is that it will be transformed once more. More news about this later on this Website as Chaoyang will be transformed from crummy and non-majestic HighRise sprawl into the proud CBD Central Business District of the New and Modern Beijing, to be presented at the Olympic Games in the year 2008. This will include the New China Central TV Building.
What is said to be the largest Ferris Wheel in the World is currently under construction in ChaoYang District. The Beijing Great Wheel, already dubbed the "Great Wheel of China", will be a whopping 208 meters tall and hopes to open in the season of 2009 AD, offering a so far unique view of the City. Already delayed by several design upgrades (foundations were layed in May 2006 already), the ChaoYang Wheel will surpass the current wheel at ChaoYang Amusement Park in South-West ChaoYang District, which has a diameter of 193 meters.
Vibes, at DAD, Factory 798 Beijing
The ChaoYang District
Beijing's Number 1 Hip Scene In-Crowd Dance Spot is called Vibes. Up for something different ? Wanna really break-out wild in Beijing ? Vibes is the Spot and place to go. Located inside the somewhat renowned Art Factory No. 798 at Dashanzi Art District (DAD), Vibes is neighbour to Beijing Tokyo Art Projects, the Yan Club, Now Club, and near the Holiday Inn Lido.
The newer Chaoyang District in the North-East outside Beijing's third ring road, home to Vibes, is somewhat out of the way, especially for first Time Beijing Party-goers, but its the Hip Art-Scene up and coming place to be.
Maps, directions included.
Dance & Party Scene
Maps & Directions
Webstyle produced NavBar
Due to the new and different nature of the Chaoyang District, its architecture, its purpose and therefor Feel and Looks are completely different from the Scenes within the Old City of Beijing
( DongCheng- , Chongwen- , XiCheng- and Xuanwu District ). If you are used to the touristic inner city of Beijing, get ready for a change of scenery. Nowadays Chaoyang is rapidly changing with an Industrial style lay-out, wide laned highways ( 3rd ring road ) with ever increasing traffic, and a Huge and growing collection of modern and semi-modern Office Highrises. Even Old Factory works are converted and Modernised, such as at The Now Famous Dashanzi Art District with it former electronics factory now turned Artist Commune Factory 798. Modern Highrises are popping up , New and Modern Appartments and Lots of Office Buildings are built, changing Chaoyang into the Most Modern District of Beijing. Since shaking off its Industrial and urban roots the now Commercial Chaoyang District has been Growing in Importance and advancing in reputation slowly turning its name to a mere CBD, the cities business district.
Chaoyang High-Lights: in the South - Ritan Park with the Temple of the Sun and the surrounding Chaowai ( Jianguomenwai ) Embassy Area ( compounds ), more Northernly the Modern Beijing Workers Stadium, -Gymnasium and other sporting Facilities with the Fun Blue Zoo of Beijing. Then Sanlitun Embassy Area ( compounds ) with its famed Nightlife Spots, Clubs and Bars which started popping up in the late 1980's and after. The Sanlitun area is now a steady success as a city entertainment area. At the most Northern Borders across the Liangma River we find the Airport Expressway, The China National Agricultural Exhibition Center and the Bank of China. Still a drab area, especially at Night. In the Far North of the Chaoyang District we find the China International Exhibition Center,the Cities Main Convention Centre.
Chaoyang is Home to several Hotels, such as the Beijing Hilton, The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel, the Kempinski and others which mainly Cater to the Embassies and now growingly to flocks of Business- Men and -Women travelling to China to take part in its new Century of Wealth. Chaoyang Business is of course supported by the nearby Capital Airport of Beijing to the North-East. Nightlife includes Bars surrounding these Hotels, Sanlitun Bar Area and last but not least the Dashanzi Art District with the "Now" Club, Yan Club, Factory 798 and of course the everhip Vibes. More Nightlife is expected. Shopping starts at the giant Lufthansa Building and Malls, the First Western Styled Mall to be opened in Beijing ( 1985 ). Other Malls open everywhere. If you can find them: Zhihua Si ( 15th century ) and Dongyue Miao Temples hidden away in the Hutong are magnificient and very old !
ChaoYang District MicroMap - Click to go to Full Version !
A guide map to Holiday Inn Lido, China International Exhibition Center, Sheraton Great Wall Hotel and the famous Art Factory 798 at the Dashanzi Art District.
The Concrete Revolution - critical chinese made documentary film on the distruction of Hutong of Beijing and the creation of the Olympic City of 2008. Buy it ! - Click Here
Find out from Jane Evans about brush painting and start learning your own skills!
A Course in chinese brush painting for shoppers at Liu Lichang.
Rare & Intriguing Social Documentary Film on The Beijing of Today. The Title "Outside" refers to what can be seen in the Street and on this Film. Format: DVD, 78 Minutes of Film. By Wang Wo.
The Other World of Shopping in Beijing. Or, that was the way it used to be. Currently relocated a modern building in ChaoYang District, the Famous Silk Alley of Beijing, now a tourist magnet for overpriced fame silk products and even higher priced real silks and kashmirs. Be There or Be Square !
One of the Ancient Imperial Altars of the City, the Altar of the Sun can be found in the West in ChaoYang District. Today a rapidly modernzing if not just flamboyant and interesting district, Ritan Park is one of the Green getaways of the Embassy District and always has its share of calm seeking visitors.
One of the Latest Luxury Malls in the City of Beijing is the refreshing architectural masterpiece the Place. The Place is a spacious and upscale Mall in the ChaoYang District of Beijing. More on the Place coming soon !
More modern Architecture in the New City of Beijing coming soon !
PanJiaYuan Flee Market
Hidden away outside the second ring road in South-West Beijing is the gargantuan PanJiaYuan Flee Market, one of the largest markets in Beijing. Go visit for your Folk Art, Communist Era parafernelia, books, classical furniture, old photos and more. Great to combine with LongTan Park or the ChaoYang Amusement Park !
