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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Red industrial heritage in China

transformed heritage sites has primarily been repurposed insufficient, and their utilization superficial (Chen & Wang,
through urban renewal, the integration of culture and 2021). In contrast, red industrial heritage has garnered
tourism, or cultural reengineering. These transformations attention for its malleability, particularly its participatory
are typically aimed at creating a museum or cultural and interactive nature, which makes it more accessible and
creative district, a model that has become central to the engaging to the public.
preservation and reuse of industrial heritage in China.
Adapting to the contemporary contexts is a key to
However, in the dissemination of mainstream culture, the successful preservation and renewal of red industrial
red industrial heritage – as a unique medium – follows two heritage. Presenting these heritage sites in engaging,
primary pathways. The first pathway involves advancing culturally resonant ways can subtly disseminate
the protection and revitalization of industrial heritage by mainstream cultural values, creating a path of “mainstream
combining mainstream culture with the mass line, which culture + popular culture.” Popular culture transcends
focuses on public engagement and participation. The second the boundaries between itself and mainstream culture,
pathway enhances the value of red industrial heritage as fostering a dynamic exchange and integration of diverse
intellectual property (IP) by merging mainstream culture cultural elements that enrich the daily lives of the masses
with innovative approaches to red culture. This dual (Liu, 2021). Through diverse forms of dissemination, mass
approach not only preserves the historical significance of culture can address the limitations of dry content and one-
these sites but also revitalizes them within contemporary dimensional formats often seen in mainstream cultural
cultural narratives. communication. By blending theoretical indoctrination,
moral education, and emotional engagement, mass culture
5.1. Protection and renewal of red industrial effectively conveys the ideological core of mainstream
heritage through “Double M” (mainstream culture +
popular culture) culture (Peng, 2012). Consequently, there is a need to
strengthen research into industrial culture pathways to
Unlike revolutionary cultural relics, much of red support industry development. This includes encouraging
industrial heritage is represented by historical buildings or industry associations and other organizations to host
structures, some of which remain operational and many specialized events aimed at integrating industrial culture
of which maintain strong community connections. These with development strategies. Leveraging innovative
sites often belong to former large state-owned enterprises models and formats, such as “culture + product”
and form extensive heritage clusters deeply integrated initiatives, industries can better harness cultural elements
into the daily lives of residents. Given the community- to enhance branding, improve quality, increase efficiency,
oriented nature of red industrial heritage, it is crucial and ultimately boost the competitiveness of industries,
to establish communication pathways aligned with enterprises, and products. A prominent example is the
contemporary popular culture to ensure their protection Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) Creative
and revitalization. Industry Park, originally the Eastern Industrial Park
As noted by Yang (2020), only when culture is embraced established during Deng Xiaoping’s era. Once home to
by the public can it evolve into a practical force for societal over 60 factories and recognized as the “first industrial
progress. Mass communication that resonates with the park in the Special Administrative Region” and a “living
needs of the time is essential for mainstream culture to fossil” of Shenzhen’s development, it was transformed by
remain relevant. However, the dissemination of mainstream the Shenzhen Municipal Government in partnership with
culture often exhibits tendencies toward simplification and the state-owned OCT Group. It became the OCT Cultural
one-sidedness, with a top-down indoctrination approach and Creative Park, focusing on cultural and creative
of “setting an example → promoting typical examples industries to meet the evolving economic, spiritual, and
→ public acceptance.” This model overlooks individual cultural needs of the population. According to incomplete
active choices and cultural experiences, making it difficult statistics, the park attracted 148 million visitors by 2023
to achieve the expected dissemination effect (Wei & Du, (OCT, 2024), becoming a viral social media destination
2015). and a favored “micro-vacation” spot for nearby residents,

Cultural heritage, as an important carrier for as well as a vital space for promoting the spirit of reform
disseminating mainstream culture, has received widespread and opening up.
attention. In the field of cultural heritage, revolutionary Moreover, popular culture must leverage both self-
cultural relics have served as the primary material medium media and mass media to enhance its public presence.
for promoting mainstream culture. However, their In the era of the digital economy, industrial heritage
protection is often inadequate, their historical excavation is no longer merely a site for nostalgia but an appealing

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4611