BEIJING -- During China's most significant holiday, Spring Festival, millions of workers left factories to reunite with their families. However, a very new contrasting trend is emerging, with people doing the opposite by flocking to such workplaces for unique adventures.

Factory tours are increasingly becoming a popular choice among Chinese tourists. Instead of immersing themselves in the serene tranquility or vast majesty of nature, these travelers opt to witness the evolution of China -- observing its past, present and future through the lens of industrial development.

THE PAST REVIVED

Founded in 1919, Shougang Group is one of China's largest steelmakers, producing nearly 10 million tonnes of steel annually and employing over 100,000 people. For decades, its factory in Beijing's Shijingshan district symbolized the country's industrial might, until environmental concerns and urban development priorities prompted its closure ahead of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

These steel operations were relocated to Tangshan in adjacent Hebei province, marking the start of a historic transformation for Shougang's main production site.

Today, Shougang Park stands as a testament to urban renewal and industrial heritage preservation. The 8.63-square-kilometer area has become a hub for culture, sports, technology and tourism.

Massive blast furnaces, once integral to steel production, now host exhibitions, events and guided tours. Cooling towers and industrial silos have been converted into creative spaces, while the park's most iconic structure, the "Big Air Shougang" -- a ski jump platform for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- has solidified its place as a global landmark.

"Shougang Park has undergone a dramatic rebirth," said Wu Xin, deputy director of asset operations at Beijing Shougang Construction Investment Co., Ltd. "It's a living example of how an industrial site can evolve into a vibrant space for culture, commerce and community."

In 2024 alone, the park welcomed over 13 million visitors, generating 5.8 billion yuan (about $809 million) in revenue. It now features many attractions and luxurious accommodation, and has also hosted events.

For Beijing resident Li Long, part of his childhood may have disappeared due to the transformation of the factory, but the nostalgia remains tangible. The 48-year-old, son of a former Shougang employee, took his wife and son to revisit his "little paradise" during this Spring Festival holiday.

"I used to come here a lot to play games with my friends during the summer holidays, sometimes waiting for my father to finish work and then going to the factory's canteen for a meal before heading home together," recalled Li, noting the towering furnaces had played the role of "evil monsters" in his childhood games.

Back in the 1980s, being a worker at Shougang was a coveted position for many. It offered job security and additional benefits, such as access to the staff canteen.

"This is actually my first time exploring the entire factory and understanding its layout, as I could only visit a very limited area when I was a child as a family member of a Shougang worker," said Li.

"How interesting it is now that the park is accessible free of charge and open to everyone," he added.

Shougang's industrial tourism appeal extends beyond its physical transformation. The park's planners have carefully balanced preservation and innovation.

Visitors can ascend one of the restored blast furnaces, where panoramic observation decks provide views of both industrial relics and Beijing's modern skyline. The site also serves as a living museum of steel production history, with interactive exhibits detailing the plant's century-long legacy.