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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Red industrial heritage in China

offers two unique characteristics. First, it profoundly the sum of its parts, amplifying the dissemination and
influences and often defines local cultural landscapes, impact of cultural values.
embedding unique geographical information within
these spaces. Second, it offers vast potential for renewal, 3.2.3. History-reality: Explaining the value of reality
enabling the creation of new spiritual symbols built upon In contemporary China, mainstream culture is a product
traditional cultural ones. This spatial materiality provides of the CPC’s historical practices in war, nation-building,
opportunities for reinvention. and reform, embodying the distilled essence of its
governance experience. Many red industrial heritage sites
This materialization not only offers audiences tangible
and participatory experiences – through concrete artifacts are closely linked to this mainstream culture, preserving
or reconstructed historical scenes – but also lays the the physical spaces necessary for its dissemination.
However, as economic structures shift and urban renewal
groundwork for enriching the material aspects of cultural progresses, these sites face challenges, such as the erosion
symbols. By bridging abstract spiritual values of mainstream of media memories and the gradual fading of historical
culture with the embodied spirit of the present era, red markers, particularly as their original productive functions
industrial heritage aligns past ideals with contemporary are lost. By leveraging the plasticity and participatory
needs. For example, Daqing city in Heilongjiang province, characteristics of red industrial heritage, reinterpreting
China, the birthplace of the “Iron Man Spirit,” is home cultural symbols, and constructing new media memories
to numerous red industrial heritage sites centered on tied to “historical realities,” these heritage sites can ensure
this theme. In recent years, however, Daqing has shifted the continuation of the mainstream culture they embody
its focus toward becoming an environmentally friendly while establishing meaningful connections with other
city, prioritizing environmental protection in its urban specific cultural qualities (Zhang & Lu, 2024).
development. Through the implementation of the “green
water and green mountains” strategy and the promotion of In this context, the concept of “historical reality”
the concept of “dual restoration,” the city has reinterpreted the emerges as a crucial communication mechanism, reflecting
once-dominant “Iron Man Spirit” to suit modern values. This the reinterpretation of mainstream cultural values within a
transformation involved converting red-themed buildings, modern framework. An example is the NICE2035 Future
structures, and equipment into public parks, sculptures, Neighborhood project in Anshan Xincun, located on
and commercial districts. The result is a new urban culture Chifeng Road in Shanghai’s Yangpu district. This area,
that integrates the “Iron Man Spirit” with environmental an important industrial heritage site, contains numerous
sustainability goals of “green water and green mountains” residential buildings from the 1950s that were once part
(Figure 1). This reimagining aligns the “Iron Man Spirit” with of the Shanghai Tool Factory. These buildings, which also
the vision of building a “People’s City,” giving it a renewed housed workers from the Watch Factory and the Water
and specific meaning for the contemporary era. Treatment Plant, were once considered “model staff
dormitories.” It was famously said, “If one person lives in
The mechanism of transmitting mainstream culture the new village, the entire factory is honored” (Zhou, 1958,
through red industrial heritage not only reflects its material p. 137-138). Hundreds of national and provincial model
attributes but also vividly interprets the practicality of workers resided in this area, making it a key red industrial
mainstream culture rooted in the CPC. This mechanism heritage community. However, over time, most factories
creates a synergistic effect, where the whole is greater than have been reorganized or ceased operations, and the old
labor patterns have faded, causing the “new village” to
gradually lose its former prestige.
In recent years, faculty and students from Tongji
University have revitalized the community through
participatory initiatives, transforming the old industrial
heritage area into the NICE2035 Future Communities
(Figure 2). This effort has blended red industrial heritage
with modern community development to create a
“fashionable community,” themed around “City Creators
and New Communities” (Ma & Lou, 2022). By framing the
project in terms of “urban makers and new craftsmen”—
Figure 1. Site of Iron Man Well No. 1 in Daqing Oilfield. Source: Photo by concepts that resonate with younger generations—the
Daqing Culture and Tourism Bureau (2024) initiative continues to uphold the “spirit of labor” and the

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4611