Golden City

Golden City

Also known as Gold Reef City, it is a theme park built on the site of a former gold mine, located 6 kilometers south of downtown Johannesburg. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Johannesburg and is definitely included in both hotel tours and city sightseeing packages organized by travel agencies. Almost everyone who visits Johannesburg comes here. Even though shops in the city are closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, this place still attracts large crowds. The history of Gold Reef City began when a man named George Harrison discovered gold here, setting the stage for its development. Harrison immediately transferred the ownership to the current owner of the theme park, the Crown Mines Company—he couldn't have imagined it would become the richest gold mine in the world. From then on, people flocked here looking for work. Consequently, a police station, post office, bank, and other facilities were established in Gold Reef City, gradually turning it into a bustling metropolis. By the time the mine closed, a total of 1.4 million tons of gold had been extracted. How did Hamilton, whose city played such an important role in South Africa’s development, leave this world? First, take a miniature steam locomotive (SL) for a ride around the park. The entry ticket costs 28 rand. With this ticket, you can explore most areas of the park except for the underground mine tour. Starting from the nearest station, board the miniature SL, which is about half the size of the real thing. The train slowly circles the park, passing by buildings and streets that recreate the glory of Gold Reef City during its most prosperous times—the gold rush era of the late 18th to early 19th century. Staring at the police station, post office, bank, bars, restaurants, and other structures, you might feel as if time is reversing, taking you back to that bygone era. Another must-visit spot is the tunnel right next to the station exit. Don’t miss the Liquid Gold experience—join the park’s most popular underground tour. Guided tours start every 30 minutes, and if you’re lucky, you might catch the very beginning. At the height of the gold mine's operation, miners went as deep as 3,200 meters underground. Now, visitors can only descend to 220 meters. Carry a lantern and take the elevator directly down to the working face of the mine, where you’ll squeeze your way through a narrow limestone cave. Be sure to bring a jacket. The tour includes listening to guides explain the various types of mining machinery and how they were used, as well as seeing the actual excavated tunnels. Before mining machines were invented, the labor was incredibly tough—you’ll truly understand that here. After visiting the mining site, you’ll likely want to see the intricate refining process. Next stop: Liquid Gold. The gold ore extracted here has a purity of less than 90 karats. So how is it refined into nearly 100% pure gold? You can watch the live demonstration. First, the gold ore is melted into liquid, silver and copper are added, and then impurities are removed. Normally, you don’t get to see so much gold in one place—seeing such vast quantities actually makes you forget its value. After the Liquid Gold tour, head left to the performance arena where “My Dance” begins. “My Dance” is a traditional dance performed by Black laborers during their breaks. They wear ankle bells and move rhythmically. Despite enduring hard physical labor, they never forgot to dance—it gave them vitality. Visitors are captivated by these soulful performances. In addition, there are live demonstrations of gold coin minting and printing using presses from the gold rush era, as well as an amusement park filled with various games. There’s so much to do, you won’t be able to finish it all in one day.