798 Art Zone, Beijing

Located in the Dashanzi Art District, and originally a military factory compound, 798 Art Zone is now a trendy area of Beijing dedicated to galleries showcasing the work of the city's established and up-and-coming artists.

Walking around the area, with it's old gray German 1950's Bauhaus-style buildings made new again with glass facades and colorful murals, fashion-forward youngsters and funky cafes, you forget you're in a communist country. There were even sculptures and paintings exhibited that were clearly critical of the political system. It felt completely free, unbridled, and uninhibited.