A blast furnace is transformed into a recreational zone. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The Hangzhou Grand Canal Steelworks Park in Gongshu district kicked off the 2025 Play Ground trendy lifestyle carnival on April 28, marking the launch of the park's Blast Furnace Cultural and Creative Zone.

Centered around industrial heritage preservation and urban renewal, the carnival features more than 30 activities including forums, exhibitions, markets, and hands-on tech experiences, with participation from over 100 brands.

The steelworks park in Hangzhou, a shining example of how to repurpose an industrial site, was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Liu Jiakun's team. Preserving iconic structures like blast furnaces and coke ovens, the park integrates ecological landscapes with modern industrial elements. It was awarded the 2024 WLA World Landscape Architecture Award.

The newly-opened Blast Furnace Cultural and Creative Zone. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

In 2025, the park will roll out a series of seasonal events focusing on culture, trends, outdoor living, and cyber experiences, with a plan to host over 200 events throughout the year to boost urban vitality and consumption.

The newly launched Blast Furnace Cultural and Creative Zone includes diverse offerings such as the 101camp camping space and a branch of the Hangzhou Library. Art exhibitions and digital tech experiences are woven into the space, creating a model zone that integrates production, city living, culture, and nature. Future plans include the introduction of digital and cultural innovation industries to further turn the park into a digital-creative showcase, injecting fresh momentum into Hangzhou's urban renewal.

The newly-opened Blast Furnace Cultural and Creative Zone. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

A bird's-eye view of the Hangzhou Grand Canal Steelworks Park. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]