In Tangshan, Hebei province, seven national industry tourism demonstration sites have been developed that draw on the area's industrial heritage, which includes China's first mechanized coal mine, steam locomotive and factories that make bathroom and toilet fittings. All this helped Tangshan pull in 1.3 million industrial tourists in 2016.

The rapid growth of industry tourism is a result of both traditional businesses leaving something behind after modernization and some companies wanting to increase brand awareness and increase sales through tourism, says Zhang Hui, director of the tourism school of Beijing Jiaotong University.

Integrating the growth of industry and tourism benefits both, says Zhou Lingqiang of the tourism and hotel management department of Zhejiang University.

Industry enables visitors to gain a new experience and pick up knowledge, while tourism helps industry increase its market presence, Zhou says.