Business Composition Change in the 798 Art District of Beijing, and Reasons Behind It

This study begins with an analysis of the 798 Art District as it has existed since 2002, using historical art district maps as its primary data source. Counting and cataloging the properties on the yearly guide map has revealed that a major business composition change occurred within just this short period of time of 2007 - 2013. Since the oldest version of the historical map is that of 2007, this study’s quantitative analysis will begin at 2007 and end at 2013. As a complementary resource, this study will conduct archival research so as to fill in the gap between 2002 and 2007. The above mentioned approaches all seek to answer the research questions in a complex, comprehensive way. The emergence of 798 is a remarkable cultural phenomenon, changing Beijing’s inner-city fabric in a profound and probably a long-lasting way. By basing itself on data drawn from historical maps, and by extending the research and analysis to embrace scholarly documents, media coverage, and observations, the study will be able to probe the underlying causes of the gentrification process happening within 798.