Factory 504, originally established as China’s first enriched uranium production plant in 1958, played a pivotal role in the country’s early nuclear development. Located in Gansu, the plant was crucial in providing uranium fuel for China’s first atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, nuclear submarine, and nuclear power plant.
However, as China shifted towards civilian production, many military factories, including Factory 504, began transitioning to civilian applications. One of the plant’s most notable transformations was that its high-speed centrifuge technology, originally used for uranium enrichment, was repurposed for ice cream production. The centrifuge’s rapid spinning proved perfect for creating dense and creamy ice cream, leading to the creation of the now-famous 504 ice cream.
504 ice cream soon became a beloved treat in Gansu and beyond, particularly during the summer months. The factory changed its name to Factory 4813 sometime later and as a part of the Da Ming Industrial Group, continues to operate as a major cold drink production company in Gansu.
Old coordinates of factory 504 should be this 30°32’53.24″N 117° 3’7.65″E or somewhere very close by.
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