HOT ATTRACTION: The Seventh Affordable Art Beijing Festival is held in the 798 Space, a studio of photographer Xu Yong in Beijing's 798 Art District, in June 2012 (CFP)

In November 2012, Wang Xiaojun and his wife moved out of Songzhuang after seven years' stay. Professional artists as they are, they decided to go back to their hometown in Shandong Province for further development.

"Chances here are becoming lean, while in smaller cities the art market is taking its initial form. We believe we have more opportunities there," said Wang, who added that the local government in his hometown is very supportive of young artists. "Although I stayed in Beijing in the past seven years, most of my artworks were sold in my hometown."

Wang came to Songzhuang in 2005, when the place was about to reach its peak as a gathering place for modern artists. Even vegetable vendors in Songzhuang got into the painting business. But in 2007, most artists left as the market became oversaturated.

"The painting price of some modern artists rocketed to an astonishing number in those years and everybody wanted a piece of the action," said artist Qi Wenzhang. "But the bubble soon burst and people had to move away as they couldn't make money here any more."

But the rent in Songzhuang continued to go up. Qi came to Songzhuang in 2003. At that time, the rent for a compound with a small house and yard was just 1,000 yuan ($161) per year. It soared to 9,500 yuan ($1,529) in 2008 and is now 20,000 yuan ($3,219).

According to Qi, there was just one restaurant in Songzhuang when he first arrived, but now myriad diners are filled with talk of money more than art. Local people are still not satisfied with the already handsome income they make renting property, yet there has been little improvement to the Soviet-era facilities, where people still burn coal to keep warm in winter.

"In the end we will be forced to leave like those artists leaving the 798 Art District," said artist Wang Liang. "The so-called Songzhuang spirit is just a stunt to make money."

For artist Li Ping, shoddy facilities would not be a big deal if the village could provide an open platform for artists. "However, many activities are held here today, but they are all for small circles and it is almost impossible for an independent artist to get involved," Li said. Even for the annual Songzhuang Art Festival, which is supposed to involve every artist in the village, Li said that he had never received any notice to participate.

In Li Ping's eyes, Songzhuang now seems like a construction site. Many houses are either pulled down or under construction, but it has nothing to do with him.

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