Last year Keketuohai in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region developed what is said to be China's first rare metals mine sightseeing route, which includes a treasure hunt and a program that aims to popularize geology. It received more than 120,000 visits last year.

In Huangshi, Hubei province, a town with a history that goes back 3,000 years, ancient copper, iron and coal mines, as well as a more recent cement plant, are now open to visitors.

In the Huangshi national mine park, a pit that runs to a depth of 444 meters has become a top tourist attraction. About 200,000 visitors go there each year. In addition, more than 1.2 million acacia trees have been planted on the park's hardrock mine to create a vast blossom scene in spring.