The 816 Military Industrial Town from the depths of history
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As the supporting machinery processing plant for the top-secret project "816", after the production shutdown and abandonment, it was transformed into a cultural and tourism innovation model - Chongqing 816 Military Industrial Town, which also made the "third-line construction history" that has been covered for a long time. More people know.
Many young generations come here, walk into memory, go back to that little-known history, and absorb the energy of the era that is not afraid of hardships and dares to contribute.
"The rooms for the three days of the Dragon Boat Festival are fully booked." On May 29, the staff at the front desk of the Starlight B&B in 816 Military Town said to the other end of the phone.
This is already the 10th booking consultation call they received that day.
Not long ago, the Chongqing Development and Reform Commission announced the list of "2022 Chongqing Characteristic Towns", and 816 military industrial towns were among them.
Different from the pure tourist town, the original historical and cultural imprint is the biggest highlight of the 816 town.
"We strive to make every detail reproduce the depth of history." Li Chuanbo, the designer of 816 Town, said.
"Leave the old", not just preserve the outline of the heritage
Starting from the central city of Chongqing, it takes about two hours to drive to Baitao Town, Fuling District.
This is a town that has been accompanied by the Wujiang River for hundreds of years. The river flows from its side to the hinterland of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.
Because the former top-secret project "816" was selected here, the place name "Bai Tao" "disappeared" from the map more than 50 years ago.
A mountain across the river from the 816 project is called Maiziping. This is the supporting living area of the project. The machining factory located on the mountainside is the predecessor of today's 816 military industrial town. In the past, many outstanding domestic machining talents gathered here. .
"After the 816 project was stopped, it was transformed into the 816 factory with the 'military to civilian', and later changed its name to Chongqing Jianfeng Industrial Group.
Li Chuanbo clearly remembers the feeling when he first walked into the site of the mechanical processing factory in 2018. "I am very happy. Although the production has been stopped for many years, the original appearance of the factory is well preserved." At that time, Jianfeng Group signed a cooperation agreement with Chongqing Beicang Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd. Agreement, hundreds of acres of factory land, more than 40 factory buildings and more than 100 sets of military equipment have become the basic elements of the 816 military industrial town.
"We have consulted many cases of industrial heritage renovation, and found that some of them just retained the outline of the heritage. In the later period, a large number of modern methods were used for renovation, which resulted in a very weak historical and cultural atmosphere." In view of this, Li Chuanbo and the design team initially provided the 816 military industrial design. The main theme of the transformation set by the town is "remaining the old".
He said that the 816 military industrial town should be distinguished from a purely tourist town and a cultural and creative park. The heavy "three-line construction" history and the red genes of the older generation's patriotic dedication and self-improvement are the "soul", and they must be passed on.
Inheriting a unique historical context
Standing at the gate of the 816 military industrial town, white tiles, a big iron gate... The shape of the factory gate still retains the look of the 1970s and 1980s.
Walking through it, green bricks, red walls, blue windows, and more than 40 old buildings have become the best carriers of that period of history.
Towering trees are scattered all over the factory area, and the sun shines through the branches and leaves, casting on the moss-covered flagstone road.
"We were always in awe during the renovation process." Li Chuanbo said that the layout of the factory area was completely preserved, and the factory buildings were well preserved. Basically, the factory area was what it was before and what it is now.
"That hawthorn tree has been planted there for more than 50 years," he said, pointing to the lawn not far away.
Li Qian, general manager of Starlight Cultural Tourism, who is in charge of the operation of the 816 Military Industrial Town, said that the town takes the existing buildings and equipment of the old factory as the cornerstone, and rejuvenates the old buildings on the basis of preserving and respecting the original ecological environment, inheriting the original The unique historical context combines the third-tier construction of military industry culture with cultural tourism and cultural creativity, forming a new type of cultural tourism project that currently integrates the experience of the third-tier cultural history exhibition hall and the military industry theme experience.
The reporter saw that the Xingguang B&B implanted in it was transformed from a factory office building, and still retains the former exterior wall style.
The transparent and bright Xingguang Academy was transformed from the former staff reading room, and the interior is restored to the pattern of the year.
The four big characters "Workers' Canteen" on the front of the restaurant instantly pull people back to the past, and even the menus are written on a large blackboard and chalk.
"I usually tell the children about our work and life back then, but they don't understand it. Take them here for a walk and take a look. They finally have an intuitive feeling." A tourist who brought his daughter to play said with emotion, "The taste of the past is back."
He Zhiya, chairman of the Chongqing Historical and Cultural Cities Special Committee, also praised after the visit that the 816 Military Industrial Town provided a useful reference and example for the protection, development and utilization of industrial remains.
"Into the Memory of the Republic"
The 816 Military Industry Exhibition Hall is the most popular place in this town. Tourists often stop for a long time in front of a display board, a machine and a slogan.
"I have operated many machines here." In front of a rusted piece of equipment, Jiang Bihuai's eyes were wet.
He said that he often misses the time when he fought silently with his colleagues, "In those days, many employees were top students from famous universities. Under the order of the state, they threw themselves into national defense construction without hesitation, and became attached to this remote town. lifetime."
Li Qian told reporters that the reason why they are willing to develop and operate the 816 military industrial town stems from the song "Republic of Memory", which is a tribute to the third-tier builders.
"The 816 project embodies the hard work of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians. They have dedicated their youth to their lives, and dedicated their lives to their children and grandchildren. This fighting spirit has touched us."
For this reason, the construction of the 816 Military Industry Exhibition Hall was determined at the beginning of the construction of the town, and it was also the most thoughtful project of the entire team.
Li Qian introduced that they visited many builders of the year and collected many precious pictures and objects. "The slogans that appeared on the wall of the exhibition hall were all transplanted from the outer wall of the factory."
Li Qian told reporters that the exhibition hall has now become one of the important patriotic education bases for young people in Chongqing. Many young generations come here, walk into the memory of the Republic, go back to that unfamiliar history, and learn from the courage to fear hardship and courage. The energy of the time of devotion.
"In the future, we also plan to open experience classes to allow more young people to participate in labor and production practices."