When we imagined Beijing, the words that jumped to mind were Power, Government, Olympics, Traffic.  The last thing we thought about was Art.  But on the outskirts of the city, beyond the fifth outer ring, not too far from the airport, something exciting is happening.  In a district that was nothing but abandoned warehouses ten years ago, a thriving arts community has arisen.  This is happening all over the world where rents are cheap.  It’s happening in downtown Detroit, far out in Brooklyn, in the northern suburbs of Paris, and most significantly, in an area called the Beijing 798 Art Zone.  This area has now actually been officially commissioned as an area for artists by the government in a sort of “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” kind of move.  It’s a must visit destination for anyone who wants to wander off the beaten path in China’s capital.  Here’s a brief glimpse at what’s happening there.