The exhibition hall covering Shengli oil field traces the history of the field's discovery, development, and its role in China's post-1949 industrialisation. The exhibits are aimed primarily at a Chinese domestic audience, with a strong patriotic narrative around the "Iron Man" spirit of the early drillers who worked through extreme conditions to bring the field into production. The industrial heritage is genuine: Shengli produces around 27 million tonnes of oil per year and remains one of the most significant onshore fields in Asia.
For visitors curious about the intersection of resource extraction and planned economy urbanisation — a story replicated across northern China but rarely explained in an accessible way — the exhibition offers insight that the city's streets alone cannot provide. The hall is located within the Shengli Oil Field compound north of the city center; admission is free but advance arrangement through the company may be needed for foreign visitors.