To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 105th anniversary of the founding of Shougang Group, the newly-composed Peking opera “The Centennial History of Shougang” was grandly staged, arousing widespread attention after its release from November 1 to 3. The news was widely re-posted by many media outlets such as Guangming online, China.com, Beijing Daily, and Caijing.com.

“The Centennial History of Shougang”, set in the period of reform and development of Shougang Group over the past 40 years, tells Shougang's struggle and success including the implementation of the contract responsibility system, the relocation to Caofeidian, and the construction of Shougang Park in the new era. Time moves on, seasons change, and the rhythm of years progresses. Looking back, Shougang has left an indelible mark in the past 105 years. As a microcosm of national industry development, it writes a new chapter in China's industry process and embodies the spirit of patriotism and dedication of countless of Shougang workers.

Once staged, “The Centennial History of Shougang” soon became a focus of many mainstream media outlets, arousing a web sensation and attracting widespread attention from the public. According to statistics, from 0:00 on November 1 to 16:00 on November 7, a total of 351 reports were made about the opera.

"The Shougang spirit is the soul of the opera and also one of its highlights." On November 6, Beijing Daily published a special edition titled “Looking Back at the History of China's Steel Industry, Carrying Forward the Century-old Shougang Spirit: The Newly-composed Modern Peking Opera ‘The Centennial History of Shougang’ Evokes Boiling Memories of the Years”, introducing the opera from the historical background, concepts of creation, performance results and audience response. The article said, “The opera tells a story of a group of Shougang workers living in Shijingshan, showing their work and life by means of various life scenes and interactions between neighbors. It tries to reflect the situation of Shougang factory and the times by ways of small yards and individual families, and pays tribute to Shougang workers of previous generations who are not afraid of difficulties and willing to blaze new trails. Such technique not only narrows the distance between the actors and the audience, but also demonstrates social progress in the past 40 years in a refreshing way.”

Guangming Online uncovered the story behind the opera from the perspectives of plot creation, music composition, and stage design, saying that by combining the music with the melody of the song “We All Workmen Have Got Power”, it is easier for the audience to feel the features of the age and the Shougang spirit passed down through the generations, making the music more accessible. The flute was used as a leading instrument when playing the melody of “Little Cowherd”. As the silvery and warm music rang out, a good vision about the relocation in Qian'an, Shougang's new production base, was presented before the audience at the same time. Such composition not only follows the essence of Peking opera, but also is full of novel elements.

On November 4, China.com reported the news that the opera was grandly staged at the Chang'an Grand Theater. The reporter interviewed the screenwriters of the Peking Opera Company, young actors, Shougang employees, retired workers and their families, and elaborated on the Shougang culture and Shougang spirit embodied in the opera from multiple perspectives.

Caijing.com pointed out in an article titled “Putting Life on the Stage: A New Choice for High-quality Cultural Experience” that a good play is more than touching, but can take the audience on a journey across time and space. “The Centennial History of Shougang” has successfully interpreted the Shougang spirit, the backbone of a great country, in the form of Peking opera.

The past 105 years have witnessed trials and hardships, as well as unwavering commitment to mission. From having iron but in short of steel to a dense cluster of blast furnaces, and from the "dream factory by the sea" to the world-renowned "landmark of urban revival”, Shougang's operating mode of "developing an industry in multiple locations" is a microcosm of Chinese-style modernization and high-quality development. Looking back, the story of Shougang is like a great epic of continuous inheritance and pioneering forward. Since Shougang was founded in 1919, its workers have stayed committed to the founding mission and passed down the red gene from generation to generation. They have bonded the development of the factory with the future of the country and the nation, and devoted themselves to the initiatives of saving the nation by engaging in industry, serving the country with industry, mechanism reform, relocation, and industrial transformation, trying to pay tribute to the era with their can-do attitude, indomitable perseverance, hard work, great responsibility, radical innovation, and pioneering spirit.