On November 26, Shougang celebrated the grand reopening of its newly-renovated and upgraded Taolou Exhibition Hall. Zhao Minge, Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Shougang Group, announced the completion of the renovation, upgrade, and reopening of Taolou Exhibition Hall. Group leaders Qiu Yinfu, Hu Xiongguang, Wang Shizhong, Wang Jianwei, Zeng Li, Zhu Guosen, Yao Zhigang, Sun Weizhuang, and Jia Xianggang attended the ceremony. The event was also attended by heads of departments from the group headquarters, main leaders of subordinate entities, Party representatives, scientist representatives, model workers, and craftsman representatives of Shougang. The proceedings were moderated by Hu Xiongguang.

The past century has witnessed the great changes of Shougang. For over 100 years, Shougang has grown with China in a remarkable journey from its rise to its prosperity and prominence. Through trials and tribulations, Shougang has forged ahead, serving as a microcosm of China’s iron and steel industry and a banner of industrial enterprise reform. The Taolou Exhibition Hall was designated by the municipal government in 2012 as one of Beijing’s first patriotic education bases. The Organization Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee has also designated it as a key site for practical instruction. As a concentrated representation of a century of struggle and a repository of the Shougang spirit, Taolou holds a special place in the hearts of Shougang people. The renovation and upgrade have transformed Taolou Exhibition Hall into a brilliant showcase of Shougang’s brand and image, presenting its historical foundations, innovative strength, and future vision to the world. The renewed exhibition hall serves as a crucial vehicle for shaping Shougang’s new look, image, and advantages. It also provides a vital platform for promoting Shougang’s products and services to the market and its customers, underscoring the significant importance of the renovation and upgrade project.

Despite the biting cold of Minor Snow, when sprinkled water freezes, enthusiasm for the relaunched Taolou Exhibition Hall remained undimmed. Zhao Minge, Qiu Yinfu, and other leaders of the Shougang Group carefully appreciated the exhibits and attentively listened to the explanations, reliving Shougang’s century-long endeavors. After learning about the results and highlights of the renovation, they expressed high recognition for the project. Taolou Exhibition Hall’s transformation represents the preservation and promotion of Shougang’s historical and cultural heritage, and a successful fusion and innovation in modern technology and art.

After 95 days of intense construction work and meticulous arrangement, Taolou Exhibition Hall has been unveiled and completely revitalized. While retaining its original historical charm and industrial aesthetic, the hall has been infused with contemporary technological and artistic elements, resulting in a stylish avant-garde space.

On the theme of “accelerating the creation of Shougang scenarios reflecting Chinese-style modernization and driving technological innovation as Shougang’s primary competitive edge,” the renovated Taolou Exhibition Hall showcases Shougang’s century-long journey from its inception with an aspiration for national salvation by developing the iron and steel industry, to its reform and innovation in the service of national rejuvenation, to its continued growth and development in alignment with national strategies, culminating in its relentless pursuit of high-quality development and the creation of Shougang scenarios reflecting Chinese-style modernization.

Entering the central hall, visitors are immediately confronted by a stunning 55.7-square-meter LED screen. A Shougang Group promotional video played on this screen makes an immediate and powerful impact. Compared to traditional audio experiences, the advanced Dolby Atmos technology’s immersive sound field creates a far more realistic sense of sound space and dimensions, enhancing the visitor’s immersive experience through 3D audio. The wide viewing angle and high resolution create images of exceptional clarity and realism, offering a genuinely captivating and almost painterly experience. Looking upwards from the central hall to the circumferential second-floor gallery, visitors encounter bas-reliefs of iconic Shougang landmarks such as the east gate of Shougang, Shijingshan Merit Stele Pavilion, New Shougang Bridge, and Big Air Shougang, rendered with impressive detail and a sense of solemn grandeur. These representations of classic landscapes with mountains and waters raise deep affection for Shougang and leave a lasting impression.

Bronze bas-reliefs titled “Heroes of Shougang” immediately capture the eye when one enters the north hall. Like sails, the heroes have guided and inspired Shougang to forge ahead relentlessly in contributing to China’s development. A newly-established wall of honor commemorates the achievements of national model workers, provincial and municipal master artisans, and leading scientists from Shougang, permanently enshrining their contributions in Shougang’s annals. Proceeding clockwise inside the hall, visitors encounter five distinct sections: “Warmth and Care,” “A Century of Change,” “Leading the Way,” “Innovation for the Future,” and “Party Leadership Guides the Path.”

A journey through the past unfolds via a collection of historical artifacts and multimedia exhibits, including stock certificates issued by the former Longyan Iron Mine Co., Ltd., photographs from the construction of the No. 2 Steelmaking Plant with equipment dismantled from the Belgian Selan Steel Plant, a commemorative plaque cast from the last ladle of molten iron at the previous Shougang site, a touchscreen detailing 172 technical innovations, and a comprehensive range of text, graph, and video artifacts on Shougang’s industrial footprint and sales network. These elements transport visitors back to specific historical moments. Before a large screen dedicated to the Party building, visitors can delve into the history of the Party and the People’s Republic of China. This screen also offers the interactive experience of the “Eight Views of Shougang.”

Moving further, visitors enter the south hall. A ring of customers’ logos encircles the upper perimeter of the exhibition hall, forming a symbolic “chain of hearts” composed of over 200 key suppliers, strategic partners, and key customers. This visual representation underscores the strong and sincere bond between Shougang and its valued partners. Leveraging its “manufacturing + services” strengths, Shougang contributes to major national projects, green and low-carbon initiatives, and improved quality of life. This contribution is presented through a unique “Iron & Steel Journey” showcasing “One Platform, Six Scenarios.” “One Platform” refers to the Shougang digital platform which provides real-time updates on sales figures for Shougang’s three strategic products – automotive steel, electrical steel, and tinplate – and offers comprehensive information on production at steel bases, Shougang smart park, Lujiashan waste-to-energy incineration plant, and the provincial/ministerial and higher science and technology awards received by the Group. The “Six Scenarios” encompass six thematic fields: “The Heart of Major National Projects,” “The Power of Key Engineering Projects,” “The Wings of Comfortable Travel,” “The Quality of a Better Life,” “The Foundation of Urban Services,” and “The Source of Sci-Fi Demonstration.” Through a combination of scenario creation, digital technology application, and physical models, visitors gain a comprehensive understanding of Shougang’s core technologies and significant contributions of “manufacturing + services” to well-known landmark projects.

Shougang keeps embracing innovation and pursuing excellence. The renovation and upgrade of Taolou Exhibition Hall, meticulously designed with a focus on “customers, partners, and society,” successfully balances the preservation of the building’s historical essence and dignified aesthetic with enhanced professionalism and approachability. The result is an exhibition hall that seamlessly integrates tradition and modernity, showcasing the hallmarks of multimedia digital technology. The renovation and upgrade project aims to vividly illustrate Shougang’s competitive advantages in “manufacturing + services” to customers and partners, offering visitors an immersive experience showcasing Shougang’s profound history and vibrant dynamism. The project team conducted extensive research at leading exhibition venues, including the Museum of the Communist Party of China, Capital Museum, and Midea Group Headquarters Exhibition Hall. This research culminated in 2 million Chinese characters of written material, 255 selected photographs and drawings, 47 videos totaling 210 minutes, nine bas-relief sculptures covering 113.5 square meters, a 38-square-meter sand table model, and an additional collection of 84 models and physical exhibits. The exhibition boasts fiber-optic connectivity supporting 10-gigabit bandwidth, interactive touchscreens, eye-catching 3D effects achieved through unique triangular folding screens, and demonstrations of AR and VR technologies. These elements infuse Shougang Park’s “technology +,” “sports +,” and “culture +” elements with vibrant new dimensions. Through a rich combination of digital technology, immersive scene design, physical exhibits, and interactive experiences, the renewed exhibition hall ingeniously reflects Shougang’s new image as a leader in high-end, intelligent, and green development.