Yeshan Mine Cave

Yeshan Mine Cave

Yeshan Mine Cave

Yeshan has been a site for copper mining and iron smelting since the Western Zhou Dynasty, boasting a history of 3,000 years. During the Han Dynasty, King Liu Bi of Wu minted coins here, leaving behind mine pit ruins that still remain to this day. These have been hailed by geologists as a milestone in China’s mining and metallurgy history, and, together with Changsha in Hunan, it is ranked as one of the “starting pages of China’s iron smelting history.”

Today, the mining depth of the Yeshan Iron Mine has reached 380 meters below ground, serving as a microcosm of China’s mining and metallurgy history. Its underground tunnels vividly showcase the development of mining and smelting techniques in China from the Western Zhou Dynasty — through the Qin and Han Dynasties — to the Republican Era — and into modern times. There is also a dedicated small train line, making it one of the featured scenic spots of the national-level Luhe Geological Park.