Changsha mining pit transformed into ski resort and water park

Inspired by similar projects around the world, planners decided to create an attraction within the pit rather than filling it in. The vision was to transform the industrial wound into an asset.

The result is Xiangjiang Happy City, which opened in July 2020. The complex features an indoor ski park and an outdoor water park. The pit's natural insulation helps maintain the snow area's cold temperatures year-round. Visitors can ski in the depths of the former quarry and cool off in the water park above.

The project presented enormous engineering challenges. The pit's near-vertical slopes and fractured rock mass made construction difficult, requiring the team to develop innovative approaches at nearly every stage. After seven years of construction, they delivered a project that has become a landmark in the area and offers a replicable model for similar restoration projects in complex geological conditions.

In February, the project was recognized by the Ministry of Natural Resources as a national model for underground space development.