A bust of Zhang Jian, a social reformer, educator and a patriotic industrial entrepreneur, at the Haonan Villa, his former residence, which is now part of the Nantong Museum. [Photo by Li Wensha/China Daily]

Hands-on experience

Wang Zhenyu, a staff member from Nantong Chongchuan cultural tourism development company, introduced how Tangzha's old industrial sites have been turned into cultural attractions.

For one thing, local people observe May 23 every year as the Industrial Culture Experience Day, to commemorate the birth of the first batch of yarn that was produced by Dasheng Cotton Mills on May 23,1899. "This event helps residents and tourists experience the industrial culture and the patriotic spirit of early entrepreneurs represented by Zhang Jian," Wang explains.

More industrial tourism routes will be launched, attractions to be upgraded and heritage sites that have been scattered in various locations across the town will be connected in the future. This shift aims to enhance the preservation and promotion of industrial heritage, Wang adds.

For example, every month on the 17th and 18th when historically, workers at Dasheng received their wages and spent money, they celebrate the "17/18 shopping festival", encouraging rounds of shopping once a month. "We turned this tradition into a market featuring cultural heritage products and Nantong's specialty snacks," he says.

"Our activities are based on Tangzha's unique cultural resources."

Experiential tours for children and residents are also hosted, Wang adds.

In a printing museum built based on the renovated rice milling factory, visitors engage in activities such as selecting movable types of Chinese-character blocks and arranging a model plate of their choice, ready to print. The museum also showcases old printing equipment like typecasting machines and flatbed printers, creating a rich cultural atmosphere.

Among the visitors is resident Dou Jianying, 30, with her 6-year-old son. While picking out word blocks, Dou explains to her child the history of movable-type printing, one of the "Four Great Inventions "of ancient China.

"We printed some four-character idioms, giving my son a taste of traditional culture, which I found really meaningful," Dou says.

A short walk away from Dasheng Cotton Mills, visitors arrive at the "Year 1895" cultural and creative industrial park. Since 2009, Nantong has been preserving Tangzha's industrial heritage, transforming the great Zhang Jian's legacy into a bustling park.

With its old walls, tall chimneys and industrial-style buildings, the park is a blend of history and charm. Xu Hong, general manager of the park, explains that it houses 44 buildings, five of which are more than 100 years old.

Following the principle of "restoring the old as the old", they carefully repair damaged parts with century-old wood, keeping the original look intact, while reinforcing with stainless steel on the outside, Xu says.

Buildings No 7 and No 8, both over 100 years old, are now public spaces that host various events, such as car launches, anime shows and fashion shows. "We hold nearly 100 exhibitions a year," Xu adds.

According to her, the park has attracted over 40 companies who rent office spaces — keeping the old machinery as background exhibits — where young designers work next to antique machines, blending history with modernity seamlessly.