The Huaibei Industrial Museum, once an old thermal power plant dating back to 1969 in Huaibei City of east China's Anhui Province, is attracting visitors to experience the city's industrial history in a high-tech and immersive way.
Once the largest thermal power plant in the province, the site underwent a significant facelift after its closure in 2018. Renovations and expansions have transformed the factory into a cultural hub, drawing in tens of thousands of visitors since its soft opening over the recent May Day holiday season on May 1-5.
"The historical significance carried by this old power plant is actually part of the memories of the city. Here, we can see various advanced and aesthetically pleasing art forms integrated into this industrial museum. I believe it is something which we can take pride in," Zhu Miao, a visitor, said in an interview with China Central Television prior to the May 18 International Museum Day.
Through a meticulous integration of industrial heritage and cutting-edge technology including AI and VR, the museum has been fashioned as a site that not only encapsulates the city's industrial past but also offers visitors a futuristic journey through time.
From the coal mining in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the surge in coal, electricity and textile industries since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and the transition to sustainable industries in resource-depleted urban areas, visitors are treated to a captivating historical expedition with various interactive scenarios.
Anhui Province boasts over 50 industrial heritage sites, with more than 30 industrial museums dotting the landscape. Drawing in millions of tourists annually, these museums have become a cornerstone of urban cultural tourism development, showcasing the region's rich industrial legacy and its journey towards modernity.
Industrial museum converted from power plant opens to public in east China's Anhui
