The anchor institution of the 798 Art District and China's most influential independent contemporary art museum, founded in 2007 by the Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens inside a soaring former munitions factory hall. UCCA mounts large temporary exhibitions of Chinese and international artists — it has staged the country's first major surveys of figures like David Hockney and Picasso alongside leading Chinese contemporary work.
The bow-trussed industrial architecture of the main hall is a draw in itself, and the museum's shop and café are among the best in the district. Exhibitions change every few months and admission is ticketed; check what is on before making the trip out to the northeast of the city.