Chongqing- Tongluo Mountain was first exploited for its abundant limestone resources during the Ming and Qing dynasties and peaked during the 1990s. Much of the present infrastructure of Chongqing was built using stone quarried from this location. When the mine was finally abandoned in 2012, the scarred landscape with forty pits of various sizes remained evidence of environmental degradation and considerable safety hazards.

However, beginning in 2017, Chongqing Municipality initiated a project of ecological restoration combined with rural revitalization for the surrounding villages to improve the lives of local people and create a new tourist attraction with convenient access for the public.

The restored Tongluoshan Mine Park. (iChongqing/ Wang Yiling)

The process of restoration involved resolving potential safety hazards within the park, the importation of soil for new landscapes, which now have a forest coverage rate of 70%, a brand new system of paved roads and public facilities for the convenience of tourists, as well as a range of culturally innovative products underscored by their appealing mining character named Kakou.

Tourists in the park. (iChongqing/ Wang Yiling)

Since the Tongluoshan Mine Park Scenic Area was first opened on trial, the attraction has received nearly half a million visitors. It has become an online sensation dubbed the “Chongqing version of Jiuzhaigou.” The park has also brought rich economic benefits to the local community, providing visitors with a supporting industry of restaurants, leisure, souvenirs, and accommodation.

Modern facilities now offer the special features of shuttle trains, sightseeing vehicles, diners, and shops that sell a wide range of culturally innovative products, including designer ice cream, fans, cushions, hats, and accessory lines, which illustrate how this formerly abandoned quarry has undergone a remarkable transformation into a 5A-rated national tourist attraction, where both the ecology amidst the necklace of gleaming pools and thriving rural economy shine in all their beauty.