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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Red industrial heritage in China

or economic value in industrial heritage management,
with criteria such as esthetic, technical, and locational
value taking precedence. As a result, the historical value –
particularly the significance of the “red” cultural aspects –
has been marginalized. In many cases, the preservation of
red industrial heritage emphasizes general heritage value
over the historical significance of its red cultural symbols.
This emphasis has diluted the role of red industrial heritage
in preserving and transmitting spiritual and historical
memories, particularly those related to CPC history.
Unlike other historical heritage sites, industrial heritage
typically comprises modern buildings and facilities located
in urban centers, making them highly reusable (Wang
Figure 3. The century-old Wushui Red Mark Theme Exhibition inside and Wang, 2012). As a result, red industrial heritage sites
Zongguan Water Plant. Source: Photo by Changjiang Daily (https:// are frequently transformed into industrial museums,
baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1702794908548335820&wfr=spider&for=pc) cultural and creative parks, specialty towns, or commercial
complexes (Liu et al., 2012). However, the focus has
predominantly been on industrial monuments from
the period before and shortly after the CPC’s founding.
Furthermore, many restoration projects have simply
adopted foreign models of industrial heritage restoration,
emphasizing esthetic and chronological aspects while
neglecting red cultural symbols, thus leading these
restoration efforts astray.
For example, consider the Wuhan Boiler Factory,
established in 1954, as one of Wuhan’s four major factories;
it was a key base for boiler production in the People’s
Republic of China and an important site for defense
and heavy industries. Visits by notable CPC figures such
as Zhu De (1886 – 1976) and Zhou Enlai (1898 – 1976)
further cemented its red cultural significance. However,
Figure 4. Hankow Light and Power Co., Ltd. Source: Photo by Wuhan after the factory’s relocation in 2014, the original site was
Local Records Committee redeveloped into a cultural and creative neighborhood
featuring restaurants, theaters, and bookstores. While
This issue is not only confined to Wuhan but also a these changes have transformed the area into a vibrant
nationwide problem. The “double-blind spot” in attention public space, the factory’s red cultural resources remain
– both in terms of protection and reuse – has created a underdeveloped, and the representation of relevant
situation where red industrial heritage is “nowhere to be cultural symbols is insufficient.
found,” leading to the loss of valuable cultural assets. The The reuse of China’s industrial heritage generally
failure to recognize the significance of these sites as part of centers on the transformation of urban public spaces
the Chinese-style modernization narrative has resulted in through cultural tourism, involving the decoding and
the destruction of vast amounts of red cultural resources encoding of cultural symbols. This transformation often
and the erosion of their social value. This is a matter that entails converting former old factory buildings into
demands urgent attention in future industrial heritage city parks using two main approaches: (i) the complete
management. removal of previous industrial symbols, replacing them
with “nostalgia/commercial” composite symbols; (ii) the
4.2. Neglect of historical significance leading to the retention of original industrial symbols, reshaping public
lack of red cultural symbols
spaces with social value by tracing the city’s industrial
China’s red industrial heritage has long grappled with genealogy. In practice, however, most red industrial
the tension between protection and demolition. This heritage sites are protected and reused through the former,
challenge is exacerbated by the prioritization of time value more commercialized approach.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4611