Industrial landmarks, relics now protected

A mottled smelting blast furnace, a factory bell that has rung in the changes and a telegraph receiver that recorded history — all tell legendary stories about Beijing.

Recently, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology announced the first batch of recognized industrial heritage sites in the capital: State-owned Factory 738; State-owned Factory 751; Beijing Telegraph Building; Beijing Enamel Factory; Shougang Group; Beijing Chemical Industry Research Institute; and Beijing Huadian Hydropower, formerly known as the Miyun hydropower plant.

Recognized as part of the city's industrial heritage, these old buildings and relics, possessing important historical, technical and social value, will receive better protection. For example, relevant staff members are dedicated to maintaining the layout, structure, style and characteristics of sites and ensuring that core items are not damaged.

Beijing has developed several industrial zones and established an industrial system covering metallurgy, machinery, textiles, electronics, chemicals, electricity and other sectors since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Shougang in Shijingshan district once built China's first oxygen top-blown converter steelmaking plant, invented and manufactured the country's first set of bell-less top-charging blast furnace, and the first top-burning hot blast stove. It has the longest history among the listed sites.

Meanwhile, Beijing Huadian Hydropower, which was built in synchronization with the Miyun Reservoir in 1958, is the only flood discharge outlet and power supporting facility in the Baihe area of the Miyun Reservoir.

One of the 156 key projects during China's First Five-Year Plan (1953-57), State-owned Factory 738 was completed and put into operation in 1957. China's first automatic telephone exchange, the first electronic tube digital computer and the first transistor computer were all born here.

Not far away, State-owned Factory 751 is listed as an industrial heritage site. It used to provide comprehensive energy supply for the electronics industry and provided stable support for the development, production and life of Beijing. It was listed as one of the three major artificial gas sources in the capital alongside the Beijing Coking Plant and the Shougang Gas Plant. Today, the old furnace area, north and south squares, and dedicated railway lines of Factory 751 have undergone basic transformations. It is now open as the 751 D Park industrial estate.

The Beijing Telegraph Building, put into operation in September 1958, was the first modern telegraph building in China. The core items of its industrial heritage include electronic tube wireless receivers, telegraph typewriters, motorcycles for telegraph delivery, plaques of the Beijing Telegraph Bureau and business date stamps.

Additionally, Beijing Enamel Factory, established in January 1956 by merging 42 private enamel factories, is the only time-honored brand in China's cloisonne, or jingtailan, also known as copper-padded thread-woven enamel.

Last but not least, the Beijing Chemical Industry Research Institute was established on June 1,1958. It was one of the earliest comprehensive research institutions in China engaged in petrochemical research, playing a vital role in the development of the modern petrochemical industry in New China.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn