Greening Mines in the Coal Triangle Region

For decades, coal mining in Ningxia’s Shitanjing area left behind damaged soil, dust and unstable slopes. The town has since restored more than 227 hectares of mined land using drought-tolerant native plants and waste from the mines themselves. Apricot orchards now grow on the restored ground, and old industrial buildings have become a film town that has hosted more than 40 productions. In 2025, Shitanjing was named a AAA-rated tourist attraction. Its story shows how a former coal town can create new jobs and income from ecological restoration.