816 Underground Nuclear Engineering Scenic Area

　　The 816 Underground Nuclear Engineering Project is located in Baitao, Fuling District, Chongqing. Construction began in 1966 with the personal approval of then-Premier Zhou Enlai. The project covers an area of 104,000 square meters. At its peak, over 60,000 workers were involved, with eight years spent on excavation and nine years on equipment installation. The construction went through three phases: accelerated building, slowed construction, and eventual halt, with a total investment of 746 million RMB. Within the completed tunnel system—over 20 kilometers in length—the main cavern reaches a height of 79.6 meters and an arch span of 31.2 meters, entirely concealed within the mountain. The cave complex includes 18 large chambers, along with more than 130 passages, access tunnels, auxiliary shafts, and vertical wells. The internal layout is distinctly compartmentalized, resembling a maze and showcasing unique structural beauty. The excavation generated 1.51 million cubic meters of earth and rock—enough to build a one-meter-cubed stone wall stretching 1,500 kilometers if piled up. There are 19 entrances and exits of varying sizes around the site, serving different purposes such as personnel access, vehicle tunnels, ventilation shafts, drainage channels, and storage facilities, all planned according to function. The design and construction of the 816 Underground Nuclear Engineering Project not only represented the highest level of architectural and engineering achievement at the time but also earned a collective award at the National Science and Technology Conference. In April 2002, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense approved the declassification of the 816 Underground Nuclear Engineering Project under document No. 14 (2002) of the Science and Industry Confidential Office. In August 2003, the revelation of the 816 Project’s secrets amazed the world and sparked widespread curiosity to uncover its hidden story. In April 2010, the site was opened to the public as a tourist attraction, attracting visitors from all over China. Professor Zhu Shunzhi, a member of the Chinese Nuclear Society and tourism expert, called it the world’s largest artificial cave; renowned landscape architect and Dean of Peking University’s College of Landscape Architecture, Professor Yu Kongjian, likened it to a “hidden jewel beneath the mountain,” stating it could rival the Three Gorges Dam in grandeur.

　　II. Attractions Introduction

　　Introduction to the Main Reactor of the 816 Underground Nuclear Engineering Project: This is China’s second nuclear reactor, officially known as the “Graphite-Moderated Water-Cooled Thermal Neutron Reactor.” It uses graphite as both a moderator and reflector, ordinary water as the coolant, and natural uranium as fuel. It is a device assembled with nuclear fuel to enable large-scale, controllable fission chain reactions. This reactor also serves a dual purpose for both production and power generation, and it hosts the nation’s first nuclear power plant utilizing waste heat for electricity. The reactor body consists of several components: the core, metal structure, water inlet system, fuel loading/unloading system, monitoring system, and control system. The core is the central part where nuclear energy exchange and heat dissipation occur. On the large core plate, there are 2,001 precisely drilled holes—these are the insertion points for 2,001 process tubes. Inside these tubes, processed uranium-235 and other elements (such as lead, aluminum, nickel, etc.) undergo neutron collisions and energy exchanges, eventually producing plutonium-239, the primary nuclear fuel essential for the massive energy release in nuclear weapons.

　　Laser Tag (Real-life CS): A high-tech recreational activity that combines sports and gaming, offering an intense and thrilling experience.

　　4D Motion Cinema: A new type of film product that builds upon 3D stereoscopic movies by adding environmental special effects simulation.

　　III. Ticket Prices and Opening Hours

　　◆ Ticket Price: 60 RMB per person during the peak season (April 1 to October 31); 45 RMB per person during the off-season (November 1 to March 31 of the following year).

　　◆ Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

　　◆ Other Services: ◇ Sightseeing Bus: 10 RMB per person

　　◆ Laser Tag Game: 60 RMB per person

　　◆ 4D Movie: 20 RMB per person

　　◆ Discount Policy: Children under 1.2 meters are admitted free of charge; children between 1.2 and 1.4 meters receive half-price tickets; seniors aged 60 and above enjoy a 50% discount with valid ID; active-duty military personnel can enter free of charge with their military ID.

　　IV. Features of the Scenic Area

　　【Laser Tag (Real-life CS)】 Uses harmless laser emission and sensing equipment instead of real weapons to conduct simulated military combat in themed environments. It's an entertainment, fitness, and competitive sport. The scenic area offers various battle scenarios to choose from: annihilation battles, encounter battles, bomb disposal missions, and more. Participants wear camouflage vests and helmets, each equipped with 8 laser-sensing points. When hit by a laser gun on these points, the gear emits audio-visual alerts and vibrations. The game includes settings for ammo limits, playtime, and “deaths.”

　　【4D Motion Cinema】 Offers nearly 20 film experiences, including: Prehistoric Adventure / Glacier Adventure / Maze Escape / Turtle Journey / Crazy Roller Coaster / Speed Flight / Dinosaur Battle / Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio / Mummy Resurrection / Graveyard Terror / Pumpkin Ghost / Forest Exploration / Prehistoric Expedition / Space Battle / Driving Without a License / New Catastrophe / Haunted Fortress / Cosmic Shuttle / and more.

　　V. Dining and Accommodation Recommendations

　　◆ Jianfeng Hotel: 72599816 (Jianfeng Residential Area)

　　◆ Honghaiyang Resort: 13896557008 (Baitao Town)

　　VI. Transportation to the Scenic Area

　　The distance from downtown Fuling to the scenic area is 30 kilometers. You can take Bus No. 208 from Luojia Garden and get off directly at the scenic area entrance.

　　VII. Scenic Area Tourism Service Hotline

　　Inquiry Hotline: 72593816

　　Complaint Hotline: 72593492

　　Information Source: Tourism Bureau