Renhuodong Lead-Zinc Mine Site

Renhuodong Lead-Zinc Mine Site

The Renhuodong Lead-Zinc Mine Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located 28 kilometers southeast of the city center, in Renhendong Village, Guanyinshan Town. Originally called Luomudi Lead Factory, later renamed Renhendong, it is now part of the Shanlinshu Lead-Zinc Mine mining area.

The site covers an area of over 300 acres and includes more than 60 mine entrances distributed across the two mountains: Renhendong and Yinbaobao. Renhendong is situated beneath a cliff, with its entrance facing northwest to southeast, measuring 1.5 meters wide, about 2 meters high, and extending hundreds of meters deep. A few mine shafts remain relatively intact, featuring crisscrossing tunnels that are deep and hard to measure.

The mine was opened in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745). According to *Qing Shilu · Guizhou Ziliao Ji Yao*: “On the 27th day of the 8th month in the 10th year of Qianlong, the Ministry of Revenue approved the proposal by Zhang Guangsi, Governor-General and Provincial Governor of Guizhou, which stated: ‘The annual production and transport of zinc to the imperial mint and the provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou are substantial. However, many lead mines across the region have been in operation for a long time and their output is insufficient. It has been found that Luomudi in Dading Prefecture contains lead ore, which has been tested and mined. It is requested that, following the example of Lianhua Factory, a tax of 20 jin be levied on every 100 jin of lead mined. The Shuicheng Tongpan (deputy magistrate) shall be appointed to oversee the operations of the mine…’” The mine was closed on the 25th day of the 2nd month in the 21st year of Qianlong (1756). According to *Qing Shilu*: “On the 7th day of the 4th month in the 16th year of Qianlong, the Ministry of Revenue approved the proposal by Guizhou Governor Ai Bida, which stated: ‘The Luomudi lead mine under the jurisdiction of Shuicheng Tongpan in Guizhou has been exhausted and should be closed. It is proposed to smelt the ore nearby at Cichong and collect taxes as usual, valuing every 100 jin at one tael and five qian to be handed over to the treasury.’ This was approved.” However, it was not completely shut down. Further according to Volume 667 of *Gaozong Shilu*: “On the 25th day of the 2nd month in the 21st year of Qianlong, the Ministry of Revenue approved the proposal by Guizhou Governor Ding Chang, which stated: ‘The white lead mine at Cichong in Shuicheng Ting has been in operation for many years, the tunnels are old and the mountain exhausted, and it is requested to close it as proposed.’ This was approved.”

From the above records, the mine operated for a total of 11 years, and the extracted lead and zinc were mainly transported to Fujiji Factory for smelting. This mine site holds significant value for the study of mining history and was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit on June 3, 1989.