Beijing · art museum
Today Art Museum (今日美术馆, Jīnrì Měishùguǎn)
The Today Art Museum, founded in 2002, was one of Beijing's first private non-profit contemporary art museums. It occupies a converted industrial boiler factory in the Shuangjing area, with the original red-brick structure and boiler equipment preserved as part of the exhibition architecture. The museum has no permanent collection — it produces 6-8 rotating exhibitions annually, focusing on emerging and mid-career Chinese contemporary artists working in painting, sculpture, installation, video, and new media. The industrial setting — exposed brick, steel beams, overhead crane rails — gives every exhibition a raw, post-industrial aesthetic that complements the experimental nature of the art.
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Quick Answer
Is Today Art Museum worth visiting?
Contemporary Chinese art in a converted boiler factory. ¥20. One of Beijing's first private contemporary art museums. Experimental and unpredictable.
Quick facts
| Category | art |
|---|---|
| Ticket | ¥20. Special exhibitions ¥40-80. Tickets at the door. Student discount 50%. |
| Hours | 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30). Closed Mondays. |
| Recommended duration | 1-2 hours. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday afternoons. The museum has three separate buildings — the main boiler factory gallery (Building 1) is the priority. Saturday afternoons are busiest. |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1 to Dawanglu (大望路), Exit B. Walk south 15 minutes on Xidawang Road, then east on Baiziwan Road. Or Metro Line 7 to Shuangjing (双井), Exit B. Walk north 10 minutes. Bus routes 23, 28, 35, 300, 348, 57, 637, 715, 801, 810, 976, 特8 to Shuangjing Qiaobei (双井桥北). |
| English signage | partial |
Why visit
The boiler factory conversion is a brilliant piece of adaptive reuse — the original boilers and pipes are integrated into the gallery spaces, and the industrial rawness gives contemporary art a grittier edge than the white-cube galleries of 798. At ¥20, it is one of Beijing's best art bargains.
Collection highlights
- The building itself — a converted 1950s boiler factory with original red-brick exterior, exposed steel beams, and preserved boiler equipment integrated into the galleries
- Main gallery hall — the former boiler room, with 12-meter ceilings, overhead crane rails, and industrial-scale installations
- Building 2 (Print Gallery) — rotating exhibitions of contemporary printmaking and photography
- Building 3 (Project Space) — smaller experimental exhibitions, often by emerging artists and curators
- The courtyard — outdoor sculpture installations connecting the three buildings, with a small cafe
Tips
- There are three separate buildings — Building 1 (the boiler factory) is the main attraction. Buildings 2 and 3 have smaller, often more experimental shows
- Check the current exhibitions at todayartmuseum.com before visiting — the programming is genuinely unpredictable, ranging from painting to VR installations
- The museum is in the Shuangjing area, not the 798 Art District — it is about 8 km southeast of 798. Combine with a visit to the Shuangjing area's restaurants and bars
- I saw an immersive video installation in the boiler room in June 2026 that used the industrial acoustics of the space — the building is a collaborator in every exhibition
- At ¥20, this is one of Beijing's best cultural bargains — even with a special exhibition surcharge, it is significantly cheaper than comparable private museums
- The museum shop sells exhibition catalogs and artist editions at ¥100-500
Frequently asked questions
What is the Today Art Museum?
One of Beijing's first private non-profit contemporary art museums, founded in 2002. It occupies a converted 1950s boiler factory in the Shuangjing area and produces 6-8 rotating exhibitions annually focusing on emerging and mid-career Chinese contemporary artists.
How much does the Today Art Museum cost?
¥20 for standard exhibitions — one of Beijing's best cultural bargains. Special exhibitions ¥40-80. Student discount 50%. Buy at the door.
What is the building?
A converted 1950s industrial boiler factory. The original red-brick structure, boilers, pipes, steel beams, and overhead crane rails are preserved and integrated into the gallery spaces. The main hall is the former boiler room with 12-meter ceilings.
How is the Today Art Museum different from 798 galleries?
The Today Art Museum is a single institution with curated rotating exhibitions in a historic industrial building. The 798 Art District is a neighborhood of 100+ galleries, studios, and commercial spaces. Today Art Museum offers a more focused, museum-quality experience; 798 offers variety and serendipity.
How long do I need at the Today Art Museum?
1-2 hours. Building 1 (the boiler factory) takes 45-60 minutes. Buildings 2 and 3 add 20-30 minutes each. 1.5 hours is typical for a visit covering all three buildings.
Where is the Today Art Museum?
On Baiziwan Road in the Shuangjing area, Chaoyang District. It is about 8 km southeast of the 798 Art District. Metro Line 1 to Dawanglu (Exit B) or Line 7 to Shuangjing (Exit B), then a 10-15 minute walk.
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