Beijing's Best Street Art: Fresh Murals and Guided Tours This July

Beijing added 45 new murals in June across five districts, with the largest cluster appearing along the perimeter walls of the 798 Art Zone in Chaoyang.

Street art draws steady foot traffic at a time when cultural venues report higher weekend attendance than in the first half of 2025. City records show the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau approved 12 new outdoor art sites in the past year, shifting focus from indoor galleries to open-air walls that residents pass daily.

Key neighbourhoods to visit

The 798 Art Zone on Jiuxianqiao Road hosts the highest concentration, where artists refreshed a 120-metre stretch of concrete last month with pieces referencing local factory history. A second cluster runs along the south side of Nanluoguxiang in Dongcheng, where the Urban Canvas Initiative has installed eight works since April using themes drawn from hutong life. Both sites sit within a 20-minute subway ride of each other on Line 10 and Line 8.

Attendance data from the 798 management office lists 620,000 visitors through the zone in the first six months of 2026, up 18 percent from the same period last year. Weekend walking tours organised by the initiative cost 120 RMB per person and depart from the 798 entrance at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; advance booking fills three days ahead.

Practical steps for this weekend

Start at 798 before 11 a.m. to avoid peak heat, then take the subway two stops to Nanluoguxiang for the hutong murals. Carry cash for small vendors near the walls and check the Beijing Cultural Calendar app for any same-day closures linked to maintenance. Evening light after 6 p.m. gives the clearest views of reflective paint used on the newest pieces.