Zhusha Ancient Town

Located 40 kilometers outside of Tongren, there is the largest mercury mine in China at Wanshan, which once ranked third in the world in terms of reserves and production, earning the title 'Mercury Capital of China.' It played a role in repaying foreign debts in the 1960s. Its mining history dates back to the Tai Dynasty, with Xu Fu once setting up furnaces here to refine elixirs for Emperor Qin Shi Huang in pursuit of the medicine for immortality. Now that the resources are depleted, it has been transformed into the Zhusha Ancient Town tourist resort. Here, we can step into the life of miners from the 1950s, enter the mining and production areas, and enjoy the natural scenery. A half-day tour of this novel industrial heritage is quite rewarding. To get to the Zhusha Ancient Town scenic area, take the bus to Wanshan Town from the Tongren South Bus Station, and tell the driver you are going to Zhusha Ancient Town; they will take you directly to the entrance of the scenic area.

Post by Sandy Vandervort | May 28, 2024