Whatever you like

The team has also adjusted the mix of art, culture, catering and other businesses to draw customers with different tastes.

"What we're building is tourism and culture combined with consumption," Lyu said.

Some restaurants serve customers until 2 or 3 am, while some bars stay open until 5 am. Where textile production once set the rhythm of the site, diners, music fans and late-night customers now keep its lights on.

Tianjin Zhiwanfeng restaurant is run by Zhao Dongfang, who worked in equipment manufacturing for more than 20 years. He said he had passed the former textile factory many times without knowing much about its history.

One evening in May, Zhao noticed lights at the site while driving past. He returned the next day to look around. The outdoor space and a stage caught his attention, and he decided to rent a space for a restaurant.

"I like the industrial style. It makes people feel comfortable and relaxed," Zhao said.

His restaurant opened in mid-July. Its indoor area covers about 300 sq m, with the outdoor section a similar size. It opens at 9:30 am, serving coffee, cold drinks and desserts during the day before shifting to dinner, drinks and live music in the evening.

A visitor photographs a friend against colorful drapes at the block. The drapes draw on the site's textile heritage.[Photo/China Daily]

Three singers perform daily, according to Zhao. The restaurant usually stays open until about 2 am, although some customers remain until 4 am. Most of the evening crowd is young, he said.

At Yichi Garden cafe, Wan has seen repeat and first-time customers drawn by the building's Soviet-era atmosphere. Her team has adapted the space to accommodate different usages.

A room that attracted visitors wanting to take photographs proved disruptive for diners, so the team created a designated photo area downstairs, she said.

Wan herself has found the quieter corners useful.

"Sometimes, I retreat to a private room in the former experts' building, just to enjoy the calm atmosphere, so I can better concentrate my mind on the paperwork," she said.