Waterfront locations: Three Blast Furnaces, Shougang Ski Jump, High Line Park, Quanmin Changdu bookstore, Starbucks
To the west of the Three Furnaces in the Shougang Park, there is a large "water pool", which is the mother of Qunming Hu. Located within the Shougang Park, Qunming Hu is essentially a cooling pond used for circulating water from the steel plant's blast furnaces, with a surface area of over 300,000 square meters. Over generations, the people of Shougang have carefully landscaped and beautified this area, transforming it into not only a crystal-clear artificial Hu but also a picturesque landscape. Qunming Hu stands as a witness to the rapid development of Shougang and the history of New China.
The lake's landscape features a variety of structures, including an archway, passageways, long corridors, a viewing tower, and a stone arch bridge. In the center of the lake, a bridge-like landscape connects the eastern and western shores, naturally dividing the lake into northern and southern sections. On a small island in the middle of the lake, three ancient-style pavilions are arranged in the shape of the Chinese character "pin", connected by long corridors and delicate, arched bridges that span across the water. The view is truly enchanting, with the picturesque lake and mountains forming a beautiful backdrop.
Standing by the lakeside and looking up at the towering blast furnaces, you will feel a sense of vastness and power, as if the sky is high and the sea is wide, with passion burning like fire. All your troubles seem to vanish in an instant. Along the lake's edge, willow trees, snow pines, cypress trees, and dragon claw locust trees are planted, surrounded by large green lawns and fields of dandelions.
To the north of Qunming Hu is Xiuchi. Originally used to store cooling water from the ironmaking production process, Xiuchi has been transformed into a popular spot for leisurely walks and relaxation. The "Nine Dragons' Heads" in Xiuchi were built in 1986. Located on the east side of Xiuchi above the red wall, these heads were originally part of the drainage system for the cooling water from the Three Furnaces. As the water flowed through pipes and out into Xiuchi, the Nine Dragons' Heads were installed at the drainage end, creating a spectacular scene as the water flowed like dragons spitting out water.
Opposite Xiuchi stands the imposing Three Furnaces. This massive structure, with its towering size and unique design, makes a powerful visual impact and has become one of the most popular spots for visitors and influencers to take photos. The Three Blast Furnaces is the most typical production line of the old Shougang factory and was the first large-scale modern blast furnace at Shougang with a volume exceeding 2,500 cubic meters. The nearby hot blast stove has even been used as a filming location for blockbuster movies, with steel pipes crisscrossing one another, resembling a steampunk world straight out of a film. The scene offers different aesthetics during the day and night, making it a must-see for photography enthusiasts.
A Quanmin Changdu bookstore is located inside the Three Furnaces. When you step into the bookstore, you'll be surrounded by the raw industrial remnants of the space, with the ceiling and walls still retaining their rugged, original structure. Don't underestimate this bookstore—it offers not only a rich collection of books, a comfortable lounge area, and delicious food, but you can also enjoy performances by the Mojia Robots and explore the latest tech at the Xiaomi Store, where you can discover new gadgets and the latest mobile strategies.
Standing by Qunming Hu, you will see an elevated, strip-like walkway in the sky—that's the High Line Park in Shougang Park, also known as the Shougang High-altitude Pedestrian Path. With a total length of about 10 kilometers, it is currently the longest aerial corridor in the world, suspended 7 to 14 meters above the ground. When open, visitors can take a stroll along the skywalk, enjoying views of the Shougang Park and looking down on the surrounding scenery. From here, you can also enjoy a distant view of Shijingshan, with a wide, unobstructed vista.
As the headquarters of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Shougang Park and the area around Qunming Hu are home to the Shougang Ski Jump, one of the competition venues for the 2022 Winter Games. This will also become the world's first permanent venue for the snowboard big air event. Additionally, Shougang Extreme Park, which was transformed from the old industrial remains of Shougang, is now Beijing's largest outdoor extreme sports venue, meeting international competition standards. Here, you will also find the Winter Olympics licensed merchandise store, offering a wide range of official Olympic souvenirs. From precious metals to home goods, from toys to crafts, and from clothing to badges, make sure to grab some limited-edition collectibles before they're gone, especially as the 2022 Winter Olympics approach.
When visiting Qunming Hu, you can't miss the delicious food offerings here.
Step into "Xiangpifang", and you'll immediately be drawn to the art wall adorned with various labor tools and mechanical parts. Behind the transparent glass windows stand four large silver beer tanks, each stamped with the special logo marking the founding year of Shougang in 1919. Black geometric lines crisscross the white industrial-style concrete, immersing you in the space. Once you regain your senses, be sure to order the classic "Steel Beer", "Steel Skewers", and "Steel Burger". After you finish, you'll surely feel satisfied and ready to come back for more.
"Cha Gang'er" is a tea and light snack shop, offering a great place to quench your thirst with a fruit tea or take a break with a dessert. Located deep inside the shop is JD's unmanned supermarket, where there are no cashiers, no need for cash, and no lines. You simply scan your phone at the entrance, pick your items from the shelves, and walk out—payment is automatically processed. If you're curious to see if this unmanned supermarket is really as amazing as it sounds, you should go check it out for yourself!
Also nearby is one of Beijing's most popular Starbucks coffee shops, located north of the Three Furnaces, in a space that was converted from a former Shougang workshop. In addition to the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the space, the store features a French sycamore tree surrounded by glass. Inside, you can enjoy your coffee under the tree, creating a unique and relaxing atmosphere.
