(Left) a) IRAM 30-m, HERA-observations: ¹²CO(2−1) emission integrated between  − 23 and  − 15 km s^-1. The exciting star of Sh 2-217, coordinates given in Table 1, is at (0, 0). Contour values are from 10 to 100 K km s^-1 in steps of 10 K km s^-1 (levels  ≥ 50 K km s^-1 are drawn in white). The ellipse marks the approximate outline of the optically-visible H ii region. The UC H ii region is at offset (−150″,  −90″) and coincides with the main peak of the CO-emission. (Right) b) same as the left-panel, but showing only the 10 K km s^-1 contour to outline the molecular emission. We have indicated the three regions that were observed in more detail in various molecular tracers (“Reg. 1, 2, 3”; black squares mark observed positions). In projection, these regions appear to form an elliptical structure (marked “ring”; short-dash). Three other structures that are discussed in the text are labeled “N-cloud”, “SE-cloud”, and “E-cloud”. The almost continuous cloud fragment that follows the SW-edge of Sh 2-217, from “Reg. 3” through “Reg. 1” to the CO-peak in the SE-cloud, is labeled “rim” (long-dash). We have also indicated the locations of the jet, the star cluster, and the UCH ii region (see text).