BART VLAAR, a Dutch mathematician, is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his family in September. They will be joining him in the new modern sci-tech park on the outskirts of Beijing, which was built on a former cement plant site.

In May, Vlaar and his colleagues from the Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications relocated to the park. They were immediately drawn to the unique work environment, which beautifully combines gardens with the remnants of the area’s mining industrial heritage.

“I find it fascinating and impressive to witness the transformation of a place with so many ‘industrial relics’ into a modern office space,” Vlaar expressed.

The development of the modern sci-tech park involves the preservation of the area’s industrial heritage, which has its roots in quarry mining for cement production.

Yu Dewang, who had been employed at the cement factory since the 1990s, now serves as a security manager at the sci-tech park. He has witnessed the remarkable transformation of the mining area into a lush green space, with an artificial lake at its center. The former workshops and warehouses have been repurposed and now house modern offices and apartment buildings.

“Previously, the factory was a hive of activity, continuously producing cement products day and night. Trucks loaded with materials were constantly moving until its closure in 2015,” Yu recounted.

He further explained that the cement plant in Beijing’s suburban district of Huairou played a vital role as a major supplier for numerous landmark projects in the national capital. These include prominent structures such as the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2 and the National Stadium, famously known as the “Birds’ Nest.”

“Unfortunately, such high productivity came at the expense of pollution and ecological degradation,” said the 53-year-old. Despite the closure of the factory in 2015, along with other industrial polluters in Beijing, Yu chose to stay behind.

Since 2017, Huairou District has implemented a strategy to transform itself into Beijing’s sci-tech base. As part of this initiative, they have undertaken a large-scale ecological restoration project that encompasses the site of the former cement plant, positioned north of the Yanqi Lake.

“We are inviting research institutions and high-tech companies to move in and develop the park into a center of international exchanges on science and technology,” stated Zou Ming, the general manager of Beijing Jinyu Xingfa Technology Co., Ltd., which manages the sci-tech park.

Similar success stories of transformation have occurred in Beijing’s green development. The Fangshan District of Beijing has witnessed the conversion of a former quarry mine into a popular tourist resort.

“When the mine was active, only one willow tree remained, but now the valley is adorned with lush greenery,” explained Wang Zhenhua, the general manager of the former Caojiafang quarry and the current Bairuigu resort that opened in 2019.

The former entrance of the mining pit, situated amidst the shade of woods, has been preserved and embellished with sculptures. Nearby, a building formerly used for miner shift changes has been repurposed as an exhibition hall to showcase the mining history. Within the resort, visitors can also enjoy various amusement sites, including a dinosaur world, a rafting experience program, and an animal feeding park.

Tuesday marked China’s inaugural National Ecology Day. On June 28, the country’s top legislature passed a motion designating Aug. 15 as National Ecology Day, with the aim of promoting public awareness and actions towards protecting the ecological environment.

Beijing, once on the brink of desertification, has exerted significant efforts in greening initiatives.

By the end of 2019, the city’s forest coverage had surged to 44%, a drastic increase from the 1.3% recorded in the 1950s. In the last five years, Beijing has surpassed its target of 1 million mu (66,667 hectares) of tree plantations, as reported in the city’s government work report this year.

(Xinhua)