A Six-Month Report on the Operation of Gansu Hezheng Songming Study-Travel Town: The Blossoming and Fruiting of an Educational Seed

From the tender sprouts of April to the abundant harvest of October, on 600 mu of fertile land dedicated to study and research, the seeds of education are blossoming and bearing fruit. In Hezheng, Gansu, in October, autumn is in full swing. Within Songming Study-Travel Town, wave after wave of students from various schools and different age groups have filled this land with youthful energy and a fervent thirst for knowledge. Since its official launch on April 26, this largest integrated study-and-travel base in Northwest China has, in just half a year, welcomed numerous study groups from both within and outside the province, delivering an impressive “six-month report card.”

Songming Study and Research Town

Operational Insights: Empowering the Future of Research and Learning with Innovative Equipment

“Buses from all over Gansu Province and beyond arrive almost every day, and student activity is bustling throughout the various venues—this vibrant operational atmosphere is truly inspiring,” said the head of base operations. This study-and-research hub, capable of accommodating more than 1,500 students at a time, is increasingly becoming a new landmark for the integrated development of ‘education + cultural tourism’ in Northwest China.

On-the-Spot Coverage: Educational Innovation in Action—Captured Through the Lens

In mid-October, as the general contractor for the design and internal project implementation of the “Flying New Generation” Flight Cinema and the Youth National Defense Education Center, we returned to Songming Study and Research Town. Half a year later, we were delighted to see that Songming Study and Research Town has taken on an orderly and thriving appearance, and we’ve truly witnessed the vibrant practice of educational innovation unfolding here.

At the "Flying New Generation" flight cinema, multiple groups of students from different age ranges arrive every day.

As the dome screen lights up, the film takes the children on a journey through the Cenozoic Era, following the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Drawing on the world’s unique Hezheng sheep fossils, the richest collection of shovel-tusked elephants, and the largest Equus eisenmanni fossils discovered in Hezheng, this film presents local paleontological knowledge in breathtaking visual form. Throughout the theater, gasps of amazement and bursts of laughter echoed one after another. As children immersed themselves in this captivating “flight,” they not only had a blast but also gained a vivid, firsthand understanding of the biological mysteries that once thrived beneath their feet millions of years ago—truly achieving a deep integration of education and entertainment.

At the Youth National Defense Education Center, the experience here is filled with solemnity and deep emotion.

On the first floor, in the historical exhibition area, children gained a profound understanding of the arduous and extraordinary struggles during Gansu’s revolutionary period, China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, thanks to the docents’ vivid storytelling and the meticulously designed, scene-based decor within the venue.

In particular, the “Shangganling Campaign XD Cinema” — with its lifelike interactive experience — enabled students to truly feel the bravery and hardships endured by the revolutionary forerunners. As many children left the cinema, their eyes sparkled with admiration.

On reaching the second floor, the atmosphere shifts to one of curiosity and exploration of modern defense technology. Here, children learn about cutting-edge weaponry and get hands-on experience with simulated shooting.

We then boarded the “Army Live-Action Training AGV” in groups and, immersed in a simulated battlefield environment, eagerly and excitedly experienced the procedures and atmosphere of our army’s live-action training.

From historical reflection to modern-day awareness, the seeds of national defense education have quietly taken root through experience and interaction.

Results are evident—moving from honorary recognition to tangible benefits.

In the half-year since its launch, Songming Study-Travel Town has successfully been selected as a 2025 China Tourism Industry Influence Case thanks to its outstanding operational performance. This nationally recognized honor is the highest endorsement of the base’s operational model and quality.

It is worth noting that in this project, the Youth National Defense Education Center, meticulously developed by Jiangsu BOREN, has received recognition from a nationally authoritative institution for its core technologies and innovative practices—earning the second prize in the "Research and Application of Key Technologies for Building Intelligence-Interactive National Defense-Themed Study-and-Research Bases," as certified by the Office of National Science and Technology Awards and awarded by the China Building Materials Circulation Association.

Meanwhile, the tangible benefits are even more evident in their positive impact on the local economy. In April of this year, the aerospace museum, flight cinema, and national defense museum in Songming Study-Travel Town were successively put into operation, driving a sustained increase in tourism popularity. According to official data, from January to July 2025, Hezheng County received a total of 3.5604 million tourist visits—a year-on-year increase of 10.47%. Total tourism expenditures reached 19,350.182 million yuan, up 15.47% over the same period last year. Behind these impressive figures lies the significant contribution of Songming Study-Travel Town, which has quickly emerged as a major driver of tourist traffic.

From spring to autumn, though only half a year may seem short, Songming Study and Research Town has already demonstrated remarkable vitality and influence. The innovation in education lies precisely in the children’s immersive experience of army combat drills—riding military bikes without tracks—and in their excited exchanges after trying out simulated shooting; it also resides in their thoughtful reflections on history as they step out of the XD cinema.

As the core provider and contractor of the “Flying New Generation” flight cinema and the Youth National Defense Education Center, we have been deeply involved in the entire process—from creative planning and technical integration to on-site implementation. It is a profound honor and source of great pride for us to witness these two theme venues, painstakingly crafted by our team, evolve from conceptual blueprints into vibrant learning and exploration hubs brimming with laughter and joy every single day.

The successful operation of the project demonstrates that high-quality themed entertainment equipment and immersive experiences are precisely the key forces that transform knowledge into attraction and turn venues into dynamic classrooms.