By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

Along with the road of Jiahua Bridge and Hongyancun Bridge, two 30-meter chimneys always appear in front of the public. They are from an old military factory, 1862 Yangpao Bureau (洋炮局1862), which has more than 100 years’ history. The factory already stops producing military equipment, and it is the memory left by the history. 1862 Yangpao Bureau will be built as a cultural and creative park. The project will star in this month, ending in 2019.

Paintings about airplanes, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. are widespread on the wall inside the park. The project leader indicates, “There are many workshops as well as cultural buildings inside the bureau. We will use the old materials and craft to rebuild the bureau.”

Interesting History of 1862 Yangpao Bureau

1862 Yangpao Bureau came from Shanghai in 1862, set up by British Macartney (马格里) and Chinese official Liu Zuoyu (刘佐禹). They recruited only 50 workers with manipulative devices and one clay furnace. Later, some foreign craftsmen came to the factory to teach Chinese people how to produce primary gunfire. Shanghai Yangpao Bureau is the first industrial enterprise in modern history in China. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the factory produced the first gun in China.

The factory moved to Chongqing during the Anti-Japanese War, with the National Government of the Republic of China, becoming 1862 Yangpao Bureau. It produced 60% munitions of China during the war time, including 7,500 cannons as well as more than 300 thousand guns.

Project Planning about 1862 Yangpao Bureau

The cultural and creative park covers 323 mu (about 215,334 m²), including 29 cultural sets. 1862 Yangpao Bureau aims to be a military theme park as well as a national cultural and creative park.

There will be 3 gates to the park in Beibinlu Road. Six areas will be set for the park: exhibition area, military area, music, the cultural area about Air Raid Shelters of Chongqing, homestay area, and entertainment area. Meanwhile, museums, theaters, and shopping mall will be set inside the park.

Source: Chongqing Evening News, Images: the respondent