Golden Eagle Broadcasting System is shooting TV drama Rush into Danger in Sanjiang Street Film and Television Base. (Photographed by Jiang Yan)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- At 8:30 a.m. on May 14, the Small and Micro Enterprise Park in Sanjiang Street, Qijiang District was bustling with workers going to plant and the broad road immediately became crowded.

During the “May Day holiday”, a constant stream of visitors went to Sanjiang Street Film and Television Base. This original industrial scene was favored by many people.

Industrial heritage is the memory of the times. It has witnessed the profound influence of industrial activities on the past and today. Sanjiang Street in Qijiang District is a well-known old industrial base, which created the brilliance of nonferrous metal smelting and metal products manufacturing in southern Chongqing. However, with the change of times, this old industrial base is facing a transition.

How to make a transition? Sanjiang Street makes use of the industrial site to build a film and television base, to promote the integration of industry and tourism, and to create new economic growth points

New production in old factory

Sanjiang Street used to be the smelting and production base of modern nonferrous metal materials in China and the production base of electrical metal materials, machinery and building sheet metals in western region. The former Chongqing Sigang Steel Co., Ltd. Chongqing Smelting Group Co., Ltd. (No. 103 plant), Chongqing Wire Rope Plant and other municipal state-owned enterprises were located here. 

"With the decline of old industry, the economic and social development of the streets stagnated, and a large number of workers were laid off, which brought many social problems. In the past three years, centering on the development of leading industries and the advantages of our own resources, and building a municipal small and middle enterprise park, we have activated the idle assets and gradually warmed up the economic development,” said Wu Xiubin, the Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Sanjiang Street.

Developing a small and middle enterprise park to activate the idle assets is an effective way to promote the old industrial base in Sanjiang Street to glow with new vitality. Chongqing Youyan Heavy Metallurgy New Material Co., Ltd. has not only expanded the production capacity of copper powder and nickel powder, but also improved the level of energy conservation and environmental protection by using the infrastructure of former Chongqing Smelter.

According to statistics, at present, there are more than 130 enterprises settled in the Small and Middle Enterprise Park, realizing a total industrial output value of 1.77 billion yuan, and promoting employments for 2598 people.

The film and television shooting base is building a nest to attract a phoenix

Among 96 industrial heritages determined in Chongqing Industrial Heritage Protection and Utilization Plan, the site of Chongqing Sigang Steel Co., Ltd. is listed.

This old steel plant, covering an area of more than 2000 mu, has witnessed the development of steel industry in new China. Even though the busy production scenes of the past have long disappeared, the cultural elements such as railway, platform, blackboard newspaper, slogans on the wall, youth sentry box and sign are well preserved, forming a garden for movies full of the flavor of the times.

In July 2017, the “Sigang memories” industrial culture theme scenic spot, built by Chongqing Film Group Co., Ltd. and other groups opened. The scenic spot makes full use of its old factory buildings and structures to do some make-up, and has become one of the few industrial theme film and television production bases in Chongqing and even in China. Here, citizens can understand the development history of the iron and steel industry and relive their memories that are hidden in heart. Then many crews are attracted to come here and be the "protagonists" of their films.

In order to further build Sanjiang film and television base, the street is planning to build a "film and television shooting theme park", which will drive the industrialization of film and television shooting by improving its relevant infrastructure.

As of May this year, nearly 100 films and TV dramas have been shot in Sanjiang Street, and more than 20000 local people have participated in shooting. (Translated by Liu Sha, Fathom Language Limited)