Meet with Culture | A Bridge to Renewal: The Shougang Bridge and the Yongding River

The New Shougang Bridge has become a symbol of the New Shougang Park. Beneath it flows the Yongding River, often hailed as “the mother river of Beijing.” This river carries the weight of history, rushing forward endlessly. But where does it lead? Today, let’s step into Shougang together and explore its story.

新首钢大桥是新首钢园区的象征。桥下，永定河，这条被誉为“北京的母亲河”的河流，承载着深厚的历史底蕴奔涌不息。它将奔向何处去？今天让我们一起走进首钢探寻。

"It might be hard to imagine, but right now I’m standing inside what used to be a steel furnace. Over a decade ago, when Shougang ceased production, these once-fiery industrial giants were given a new identity. For example, the blast furnace I’m in today—No. 3 High Furnace—has been transformed into a history exhibition hall."

“你可能很难想象，我现在身处一座昔日炼钢炉的内部。十多年前，首钢停产后，这些熄灭炉火的工业遗产有了新的身份，例如我现在所处的三高炉现在成了一处历史展示空间。”

The predecessor of Shougang—the Shijingshan Plant of the Longyan Iron Mine Company, established in 1919—was one of the earliest national steel enterprises in modern China. It was located on the banks of the Yongding River, an area once frequently plagued by floods. After extensive surveys and repeated deliberations, the site was chosen for its unique advantages: abundant coal resources, convenient railway access, and a reliable water supply.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Shougang became a major base of the nation’s steel industry. Entering the 21st century, due to environmental concerns and the needs of urban development, Shougang shut down all its steel production lines in Beijing in 2005 and relocated to Caofeidian in Hebei Province. The original plant area was transformed into Shougang Park, which has since become a landmark of Beijing’s urban renewal and a key venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics."

首钢的前身——1919年成立的龙烟铁矿公司石景山炼厂，是近代中国较早的民族钢铁企业。它坐落在曾经洪灾频仍的永定河畔。当年，在经过多地踏勘与反复论证后，选址团队看中了这里得天独厚的条件：煤炭、铁路、水源一应俱全。

新中国成立后，首钢成为新中国钢铁工业的重要基地。进入21世纪后，因环保和城市发展需要，首钢自2005年起整体关停北京钢铁生产线，迁至河北曹妃甸，原厂区转型为首钢园，成为北京城市更新与2022年冬奥会的重要承载地。

"Behind me lies Qunming Lake, which used to be the industrial cooling pond for the steelworks. It may be hard to believe, but this entire lake is man-made. Even today, it remains the largest artificial lake in Shijingshan District."

“我身后的这片叫做群明湖的水域，就是当年首钢工厂的工业凉水池，为炼钢提供冷却水。可能很难想象，这个湖泊完全是人工修建的，直到现在也是石景山区最大的人工湖。”

Qunming Lake, built in 1943, has now become one of the core scenic areas of Shougang Park. In summer, its shimmering surface is enlivened by people enjoying water sports, while the lakeside serves as a haven for various bird species. What was once an auxiliary facility for industrial production has been transformed into an important waterscape for urban public life. Together with natural water bodies, man-made lakes contributes to the distinctive aquatic fabric of Beijing, weaving a continuous cultural narrative of water and humanity living in mutual dependence.

群明湖建于1943年，如今已是首钢园的核心景观区之一。夏日湖面波光潋滟，水上运动的人们点缀其间，湖畔则成为多种鸟类的栖息乐园。昔日工业生产的附属设施，已转型为城市公共生活的重要水景；人工水体与自然水体一道，汇聚成北京独特的水文化肌理，在人与水相依相生的历程中，共同谱写绵延不断的水文化篇章。

During the Winter Olympics, Shougang’s industrial heritage was directly repurposed as competition and training venues. Highlights include the conversion of the coal preparation workshop into training bases for China’s short track speed skating, figure skating, and curling national teams. Meanwhile, the striking combination of cooling towers and smokestacks provided the dramatic backdrop for the Big Air Shougang—“Snow Flying Apsaras”—the first Olympic ski jumping platform ever built on an industrial site.

北京冬奥会期间，首钢工业遗产被直接利用为比赛和训练场地。其核心设施包括：将原有精煤车间改造为短道速滑、花样滑冰、冰壶三支国家队的训练基地；利用厂区工业遗迹作为背景，新建了首钢滑雪大跳台“雪飞天”。这是冬奥历史上首次对城市工业遗产进行如此大规模的再利用。

Holding Olympic competitions inside a former steel plant was such a creative choice. Seeing the “Big Air” venue framed by the old cooling towers is simply stunning.

“将冬奥会场地设置在一个曾经的炼钢厂里，真是一个特别有创意的选择。‘大跳台’与冷却塔同框太酷了。”

Another major identity of Shougang Park is that it serves as the permanent venue of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Every autumn, this grand event draws global attention, showcasing the latest achievements in the service trade and marking milestones of openness and cooperation.

首钢园的另一个身份是服贸会的永久会址，每年秋天，这里都会举办这一盛大展会，吸引全球目光聚焦，见证服务贸易领域的最新成果与开放合作的重要时刻。

From its founding during a time of national crisis, to becoming a powerhouse of the Republic’s steel industry, from the dazzling “Snow Flying Apsaras” of the Winter Olympics, to its role as an international stage for CIFTIS—Shougang’s every transformation has been accompanied by the flowing waters of the Yongding River. The river still rushes forward, and Qunming Lake remains calm as a mirror. They are not only witnesses of history but also participants in the future. Water once fueled the torrents of steel; today it nourishes the soil of innovation. Linking Shougang’s past and future, it reflects the enduring vitality of a city that thrives on both tradition and change.

从民族危难时期成立、随着共和国一起发展腾飞的钢铁企业，到冬奥赛场创意无限的“雪飞天”，再到服贸会的国际舞台——首钢园的每一次转身都离不开永定河水的见证。永定河依旧奔流，群明湖静默如镜，它们不仅是历史的旁观者，更是未来的参与者。水，曾推动钢铁洪流，如今浸润创新土壤；它串联起首钢的过去与未来，也映照出一座城市在传承与变革中，始终如一的生命力。

出品人：王晓辉

Executive Producer: Wang Xiaohui

总监制：薛立胜

Chief Supervisor: Xue Lisheng

总策划：蔚力

Chief Planner: Yu Li

制片：张芃芃

Producer: Zhang Pengpeng

策划：张芃芃 丁素云 曹川川 李颖

Creative Planning: Zhang Pengpeng, Ding Suyun, Cao Chuanchuan, Li Ying

导演：龚小磊

Director: Gong Xiaolei

撰稿：张芃芃

Screenwriter: Zhang Pengpeng

主持人：荣希玛 (Chaima El Moujradi) 劳拉 (Laura Ugalde) 德密柰 (Marina Dech)

Hosts: Chaima El Moujradi, Laura Ugalde, Marina Dech

摄像：李春浩 王恺琦

Cinematography: Li Chunhao, Wang Kaiqi

跟机：王俊胜

Camera Assistant: Wang Junsheng

剪辑：王恺琦 顾钧予 刘泽敖

Editing: Wang Kaiqi, Gu Junyu, Liu Zeao

调色：康凯

Color Grading: Kang Kai

混音：康凯

Sound Mixing: Kang Kai

推广：孟超 李昭 姜壹平 苏向东 丁素云 王雁青 葛蕾 秦金月 张静

Promotion: Meng Chao, Li Zhao, Jiang Yiping, Su Xiangdong, Ding Suyun, Wang Yanqing, Ge Lei, Qin Jinyue, Zhang Jing

节目承制：大音

Produced by: NEWSAYING (Shanghai) Consulting and Planning Co., Ltd.