The Changping International Medical Device City (West Zone) Phase I project, spanning approximately 120,000 square meters, has recently topped out, marking a dramatic transformation of the historic Hongye Steel Mill site into a high-tech innovation hub. This redevelopment injects fresh momentum into Changping’s burgeoning biomedical and healthcare industry cluster.
**From Industrial Glory to Modern Innovation** The Hongye Steel Mill, established in 1958 during China’s mass steel production campaign, was originally the Beijing Changping Nankou Steel Plant before being reorganized into Shougang Hongye Steel Mill. As a state-level enterprise, it once operated three rolling workshops and an automotive leaf spring production line, with an annual output exceeding 300,000 tons of steel products and 20,000 tons of automotive leaf springs. Its products, including angle steel and flat steel, were sold domestically and internationally. The mill also featured a self-contained "industrial community" with dormitories, hospitals, kindergartens, and theaters, serving as a cultural and social hub for generations of workers.
**Industrial Heritage Repurposed** After Shougang relocated its steel billet operations in 2005, Hongye Steel Mill gradually scaled down production before fully ceasing operations in 2010. During its idle years, its well-preserved steam locomotives, gantry cranes, and red-brick factories became popular filming locations for movies and TV series, including *The Battle at Lake Changjin* and *The Age of Steel*, turning the site into a living relic of industrial history.
**A New Chapter for Medical Innovation** Now, the dormant site has been revitalized as part of Changping’s industrial upgrade and urban renewal strategy. The 88.6-hectare Changping International Medical Device City (West Zone) is located in the core area of the Beida Machikou Science Town. Blending "industrial heritage with technological innovation," the project retains the historical fabric of the steel mill while transforming it into a cutting-edge biomedical research and manufacturing base.
The redesigned campus reimagines the former steel workshops into modern spaces, preserving the industrial "roots and soul" while meeting the demands of high-end medical device R&D. As a key platform for Peking University’s national key laboratory cluster, the West Zone is establishing a full industrial chain—from R&D to production and commercialization—catering to startups and scaling enterprises alike.
**Future Prospects** Upon completion, the project aims to become a global hub for high-end medical device innovation. Phases II and III are underway, with full operation expected by 2029. The final 850,000-square-meter complex will focus on advanced medical equipment, AI-driven healthcare, and the "lab-science park-industrial park" model, accelerating the commercialization of academic research and solidifying Changping’s position as a rising star in medical innovation.