For fans of arts and handicrafts, visiting Baigongfang, a living museum of traditional Chinese handicrafts, is an inspirational experience in understanding the value of Chinese handmade art.
Located at the southern part of downtown Beijing, 1 kilometer east of the Temple of Heaven, Baigongfang handicraft center provides 42,000 square meters for 103 masters to make and show their diverse crafts. A visitor can observe artists creating handicrafts on the spot.
Inside a red gate, there are studios of many national and provincially renowned masters specializing in 20 categories of imperial arts, folk arts, and modern arts, such as jade and ivory carving, cloisonn, lacquer ware, paper cuts, and clay figurine.
Everyday between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, craftsmen work in their studios, welcoming anyone interested to come and appreciate the arts. There is a genuine concern that most of the art of handicrafts in China is disappearing and must be protected.
Foreigners seeking authentic imperial crafts, modern girls pursuing glazed glassware jewelry, old Chinese collecting classic silk embroideries all wander along the archway in search of surprises.
The word, "Baigong" originated from an ancient book written in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC). Baigongfang literally means a workshop for 100 kinds of handicrafts.
In 1970s, China's handicrafts were prosperous and largely exported overseas. After the business decline of the 1990s, many handicraft workers lost their jobs. In the aim of inheriting and developing China's traditional arts and handicrafts, Baigongfang was established in 2003 in Chongwen District, by the local government, Beijing Arts and Crafts Association, and the Beijing Gongmei Phoenix Tour and Art Co Ltd, plus others.
As well as housing handicrafts studios, there are rooms for an exhibition and lecture activities on the third floor, to provide some DIY opportunities for the visitors to promote the arts.