The Northern Ordnance Industry City

The Northern Ordnance Industry City

The Northern Ordnance Industry City is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Baotou is a heavy industrial base built during China’s First Five-Year Plan period, producing a variety of heavy weaponry. The “Northern Ordnance Industry City” was invested in and constructed by China North Heavy Industries Group, a major state-owned defense enterprise. The entire ordnance city covers an area of 270 acres and is divided into three sections: the east zone, the west zone, and the central zone.

Currently, the landscapes of the Northern Ordnance Industry City are divided into areas such as the main square zone and the ordnance exhibition zone. The ordnance city will showcase China’s advanced military culture and the tremendous contributions made by generations at China North Heavy Industries to the development of the country’s ordnance industry. It will become a patriotic education base for young people.

Within the fence made of decommissioned shell casings at the Northern Ordnance Industry City, 28 various types of weapons are on display. These include artillery pieces from the former Soviet Union used during the Great Patriotic War; the first 100mm anti-aircraft gun developed by the Republic, known as the “First Cannon of the Republic,” which was personally inspected by Chairman Mao Zedong during the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic; the cutting-edge weapon of the 1960s — the “Hongqi-II” missile, which shot down American U-2 spy planes multiple times; the “Meritorious Cannon” with dual 57mm barrels that achieved great military success in the Battle of the Paracel Islands; the modern 120mm self-propelled anti-tank gun, known as the tank killer, which was displayed during the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic; as well as other self-propelled artillery that integrate advanced domestic and international technologies, reflecting varying levels of development.