"Digital-Physical Integration: A New Chapter for Factory No. 2" — A Survey of the Current Status and Research on Optimization Pathways for the Revitalization of Chongqing’s E’ling Factory No. 2 Industrial Heritage

Abstract

With the successive introduction of policies related to heritage protection and urban renewal in China, the revitalization of industrial heritage has become a key means of promoting high-quality urban development, preserving historical continuity, and demonstrating cultural confidence. Chongqing E’ling No. 2 Factory (hereinafter referred to as "No. 2 Factory") was originally the Central Bank’s banknote printing plant during the Republic of China era and was later renamed the Chongqing Printing No. 2 Factory. It stands as a quintessential example of modern and contemporary industrial heritage in Southwest China, embodying rich historical, technological, social, and artistic value. To examine the current state of revitalization, existing challenges, and optimization strategies for this site, this study conducts research focusing on four key stakeholders: the government, the site management, businesses, and consumers. It employs methods such as document analysis, questionnaire surveys, text mining, and face-to-face interviews to collect field data. The collected data is then analyzed using descriptive statistics, K-Means clustering, cross-tabulation, random forest models, and SHAP explanatory methods.

The results show that the revitalization of the No. 2 Factory industrial heritage project has yielded significant results, with commercial vitality steadily increasing. There is broad consensus regarding the project’s historical and cultural value, but there are notable differences between merchants and consumers in their assessments of the preservation of the architectural character. The use of digital and intelligent technologies to create immersive experiences is providing a key innovative impetus for the dynamic revitalization of heritage sites. Different types of merchants and consumers exhibit varying preferences in terms of engagement, satisfaction, and digital and intelligent technology needs. Based on the research findings, we propose multifaceted optimization measures and recommendations from the perspectives of the government, merchants, consumers, and the park management. This paper also employs random forest and explainability analysis methods to supplement empirical research on the revitalization of industrial heritage. We hope these findings will provide valuable references and insights for the future renovation and optimization of the E’ling No. 2 Factory, as well as for the digital and intelligent revitalization of similar industrial heritage sites across China.