A massive mining pit that once marred the landscape of Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, has been revitalized into a sprawling ski resort and water park, becoming a model for ecological restoration.
Located in Xiangjiang New Area, the pit was carved out over decades of limestone quarrying that began in the 1950s. At its peak, the area was home to dozens of cement and chemical plants, which were attracted by its abundant resources.
While the industry fueled the local economy, it came at a high environmental cost. By the time the last quarry closed, the hillside had been hollowed into a 110-meter-deep chasm, with a surface area larger than 25 soccer fields. The exposed rock and soil, left barren by years of excavation, sent clouds of dust into the air.
Starting in 2008, local authorities implemented a strategy to rehabilitate the heavily polluted area that included shutting down 31 polluting plants and 10 mining operations to mitigate the damage. Yet, the scar remained, and how to heal it posed the next challenge.
