Abandoned stone mine turns into mine of enjoyment

Among the closed companies, one cement company left a huge stone pit with a depth of more than 100 meters and an open area of over 180,000 square meters, like an enormous scar on the ground.

In order to "heal" the wound, Hunan Xiangjiang New Area Investment Group Co Ltd poured in 12 billion yuan (about $1.7 billion) to rebuild the abandoned mine into an amusement park, and the construction work began in November 2015.

Meanwhile, supporting resources including a shopping street, a movie theme town and tourist attractions in the vicinity also injected impetus into the old industrial area.

"In the past, on a clear day, you would be covered with dust, while on a rainy day, you would be splashed with mud," Xie recalled.

"However, I can now invite my friends to my place with confidence. With convenient traffic, I feel much happier living here," Xie added.