In 2024, Jianxiang Diesel Engine’s factory, as a “pearl” of industrial civilization, is shining again. It has formed a path of integrating protection and utilization with industrial innovation and development as well as urban function enhancement.

Jianxiang Diesel Engine’s factory, founded on April 1, 1950, was the first public-private partnership enterprise in Hengyang City.

In 1952, the first 201-type gas engine in Hunan was successfully trial produced in the factory, filling the gap in the production of internal combustion engines in Hunan Province.

Besides, this fundamentally changed the backward situation of Hengyang’s machinery industry that relied on repair and maintenance of parts and components for a long time, and contributed to the development of the local manufacturing industry.

In the wave of socialist construction, Jianxiang Diesel Engine’s factory independently developed Hunan’s first diesel engine and provided it to more than 30 tractor factories nationwide, laying a solid foundation for the industrial development of Hengyang. Therefore, it’s also known as the “cradle of diesel engines”.

In 1958, Jianxiang was designated as the agricultural machinery manufacturing center of Hunan in the “2nd Five-year Plan” of Hunan Province, and was included among one of the top ten leading factories.

With the development of the industry in New China, Jianxiang developed into the largest multi-cylinder small-bore diesel engine production base in the central and southern regions, leading Hengyang’s machinery industry. It also entered the ranking of large enterprises in China.

By 1992, Jianxiang had basically established a production system with complete facilities of casting, forging and cold processing, heat treatment and power supply.

There were over 20 assembly lines and more than 1,200 sets of equipment, creating an annual production capacity of 1 million-horsepower internal combustion engines which were exported overseas.

In the 1990s, with the changes of the times and the impact of the market, the factory was caught in a development dilemma. It seemed to be forgotten by the times. But it regains vitality in a new era.

To inherit and promote the industrial history and culture of Hengyang, while expanding and strengthening the entrepreneurial base, Jianxiang fully utilizes its unique industrial cultural resources, deeply explores the cultural heritage and historical value of old and well-known industrial enterprises, develops characteristic industrial tourism, and forms a new path of integrated development of industry and tourism.

Taking the opportunity of hosting the third Hunan Tourism Development Conference, it has revitalized idle assets and developed new cultural and tourism forms.

Jianxiang Diesel Engine’s factory has a total of 32 historical buildings, including 4 provincial cultural relics protection buildings, as well as two longest-preserved and most complete diesel engine production lines in Hunan Province.

Hengyang State-owned Asset Investment Holding Group has worked to revitalize idle assets and utilize industrial heritage.

In February 2024, the upgrading and renovation project of Jianxiang Diesel Engine’s factory was officially launched. In the process of renovating the block, the company fully retained the historical values and cultural connotation of the old factory buildings.

They retained the original industrial elements such as red-brick tile houses and Soviet style buildings, while introducing modern technology and innovative design concepts. After eight months of relentless efforts, the old factory was developed into a creative block that integrates urban memory, knowledge dissemination, industrial culture, leisure and entertainment, and Internet-famous photo spots, namely Jianxiang Industrial and Cultural Block.

And it made a stunning appearance at the 3rd Hunan Tourism Development Conference, widely recommended by central media such as People’s Daily, Xinhua News, and CNR News.

It has become a popular new attraction, drawing a continuous stream of visitors from all over the country.

During this year’s National Day holiday, the Jianxiang Industrial and Cultural Block was bustling with people. Despite traffic restrictions, over 330,000 people visited here within seven days, making it one of the top ten tourist attractions in Hengyang City upon opening.

In the Jianxiang Industrial and Cultural Block, tourists can feel a strong industrial atmosphere. The various old mechanical equipment such as lathes that can be seen everywhere on the roadside make people feel like they have traveled back to the booming era of Hengyang’s industry.

At the same time, the China Hengyang Old Industrial Base Cultural Museum in the block has also attracted the attention of many tourists. This museum showcases the history and glorious achievements of China’s old industrial bases and Hengyang’s industrial development, allowing visitors to have a deeper understanding of China’s old industrial bases and the industrial culture of this city.

In addition, the block has also introduced rich business forms and unique cultural experiences.

In the block, there is the first China-Chic Immersion Theater for Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty in Hunan, the largest sauce-flavor liquor trading center in Central China, as well as many operational sub projects such as Jianxiang Canteen, Jianxiang Industrial Research Base and Jianxiang Store.

Among them, the Jianxiang Industrial Research Base has also developed industrial themed curriculum systems such as industrial craftsmanship, industrial technology, industrial art, and civilized etiquette education, providing valuable opportunities for young people to experience industrial history and culture, and learn industrial knowledge. It has become the first standardized industry-themed research and labor education base in Hunan.

The block has been successively rated as a national pilot and demonstration base for industrial culture study and practice education, a provincial cultural heritage site and a provincial demonstration base for industrial tourism.

These honors are a recognition of the achievements in utilization of the block and the cultural industrial development in Hengyang City.

Jianxiang Industrial and Cultural Block has undergone a magnificent transformation. Today, it has become a shining calling card of Hengyang’s cultural and tourism industry, attracting more and more tourists.

This industrial relic, which carries the historical memory of the city, is radiating vitality with a brand new appearance, contributing new strength to the development of Hunan’s cultural and tourism industry.