After more than 1,000 days and nights of meticulous craftsmanship, the Yihe Bio Park, formerly an abandoned pharmaceutical factory, has completed its spectacular transformation. Yihe Live, a commercial complex developed by the Beijing Tourism Group, recently announced its trial operation. Situated in Zhangjiawan Design Town, this complex not only exemplifies the practice of Beijing as a national pilot city for intelligent construction, but also serves as a benchmark for the digital transformation of the construction industry in the BMC.
As a model project exploring the efficient utilization of existing land in the BMC, the birth of Yihe Live itself represents a breakthrough. Spanning 1.5 hectares with a total construction area of 38,000 square meters, the complex retains the historical texture of the old industrial site while upgrading its functionality through digital construction technologies, completing the leap from obsolete factory buildings to a mixed-use lifestyle complex.

From an urban renewal perspective, this project is the first in China to propose and implement a full-process digital twin construction concept, making it a pilot for the BMC’s digital transformation of the construction industry. It also serves as an innovative case of revitalizing state-owned industrial land, offering a replicable solution for urban regeneration.

The YiHe Live Commercial Complex consists of six individual buildings: The northern buildings No. 1, 2, and 3 house the Jianguo Hidden Hotel, while the southern buildings No. 5 and 6 serve as designer apartments. At the center stands Building No. 4, a renovated former factory building that has been transformed into the hotel lobby, also accommodating conference, dining, and multifunctional spaces within its design.

Tong Jiankun, Manager of Yihe Live’s Operations Department, explained that construction officially began in September 2023. The site design continues the “carpet-like street block” concept of the Design Town, featuring open green landscapes that connect closely with the Central Green Forest Park to the north and extending the one-kilometer urban vitality corridor along Yunfeng Road to the south. This enhances the continuity of green and pedestrian-friendly spaces, creating an integrated and open urban block.

Inside Yihe Live, design balances functionality with warmth at every turn. The project introduces an innovative “dual hotel” operation model: The Jianguo Hidden mid-to-high-end chain hotel under Beijing Tourism Group meets the needs of efficient business travel. The designer hotel apartments offer personalized experiences for quality-conscious travelers. Together, the two hotels provide 415 rooms, catering to various accommodation scenarios.
The ground-floor commercial space functions as a “vitality engine.” Tong Jiankun noted that the project has already attracted well-known brands such as Starbucks, as well as supermarkets and hotpot restaurants, with a leasing rate exceeding 50%. In the future, it will host dozens more tenants, covering dining, leisure, art exhibitions, entertainment, and interactive experiences. Yihe Live is not merely a place for accommodation or consumption; it is a space for interaction between people and the city.

Positioned as a “City Reception Hall,” the complex seamlessly blends industrial heritage with contemporary aesthetics. Weathered factory walls complement dynamic glass facades, rusted piping is transformed into art installations, and even courtyard greenery echoes architectural lines, embodying the philosophy of “tranquility coexisting with vibrancy.”
Looking ahead, Yihe Live will become the “social core” of Design Town—offering high-end business reception spaces for enterprises, providing daily leisure spaces for residents, and hosting various art activities and cultural exhibitions to showcase the urban character of the BMC.