The Dashanzi Factory Complex was a former soviet style factory located in the northeastern suburb of Beijing, China. Began as an implementation of the military-industrial cooperation agreement between the former Soviet Union and the newly formed People's Republic of China, the Dashanzi Factory Complex developed into 156 joint factories by 1951 that became an important part of the Chinese government's first Five-Year Economic Plan. The complex was vacated in the 1980s as China began its economic reforms and re-inhabited by starving young artists looking for cheap rents on the outskirts of Beijing. In 2002 notable artists began setting up galleries, restaurants and entertainment facilities in the complex, the former military factory became a haven for artists and many moved to the region and began setting up their studios. Today it is Beijing premier art space and has been host to major exhibitions from both Chinese and foreign artists. The complex is known as 798 Art Zone after Factory #798 which is one of several structures within a complex formerly known as Joint Factory 718.