Ecological restoration of abandoned mine sites is being widely carried out across China and has already achieved remarkable results. Against this backdrop, it is highly necessary to actively explore new models for mine ecological restoration, shifting the focus of mine redevelopment from mere vegetation recovery to the development of emerging alternative industries. In accordance with the overall urban master plan, within the near and mid-suburban areas of cities, we can select appropriately suited abandoned mine sites to establish various types of landscaped green spaces—including mine-site parks, ecological demonstration parks, environmental education parks, and small recreational gardens. Such initiatives not only breathe new life and cultural significance into these abandoned mine sites but also serve as a valuable addition to the city’s overall landscape-green space system.

1 Inheriting Nature: An Ecocultural-Driven Model for Mine Ecological Restoration and Tourism Development

Case: The Eden Project in the UK

Eden Project in the UK is located in Cornwall, England, on a peninsula tip that juts out into the sea in southeastern England. It covers a total area of 15 hectares. The site was originally a vast quarry left behind after local residents mined clay. The project involved an investment of £130 million and took two years to complete, finishing in 2000 and opening to the public in March 2001. In its first year of operation, it attracted over two million visitors, and since then, the total number of visitors has exceeded ten million.

The Eden Project in the UK is the world’s largest single greenhouse, bringing together nearly all of the planet’s plant species—more than 4,500 species and 135,000 plants, flowers, and trees that thrive here in harmony. Within the massive, space-frame-structured greenhouse—the Eden Pavilion—a diverse array of natural ecosystems has been recreated. Its mission statement is: “To foster a deeper understanding of the vital relationship between plants, people, and resources, thereby enabling responsible stewardship of this relationship and guiding everyone toward a sustainable future.”

A botanical theme park built around plant culture, integrating cutting-edge high-tech methods, and themed on “the symbiotic coexistence of humans and plants.” Guided by the principle that “plants are indispensable companions to humanity,” this park boasts exceptional scientific research, industrial, and tourism value.

Comprising eight massive, futuristically styled honeycomb-shaped dome structures, every four of these dome-shaped buildings are grouped together to form the “Humid Tropical Pavilion” and the “Warm Climate Pavilion,” respectively. Between the two pavilions lies an open-air garden known as the “Cool Climate Pavilion.” Inside these dome structures, a variety of Earth’s distinct ecological environments have been meticulously recreated, showcasing diverse biological communities and housing tens of thousands of exotic flowers and plants from around the globe.

The dome of the “Eden Project” is made from a lightweight material that is not only incredibly light but also possesses self-cleaning properties and is fully recyclable. Moreover, all other structures within the Eden Project are constructed using eco-friendly materials and clean, renewable energy sources. In fact, the Eden Project itself serves as a prime example of energy efficiency and environmental conservation.

We have succeeded in restoring a natural ecological zone in an area already affected by industrial pollution and degradation.

2 Restoring Memory: A Mining Ecological Restoration and Tourism Development Model Driven by the Revitalization of Industrial Memory

Case: Huangshi National Mining Park

Huangshi National Mine Park is located in Tieshan District, Huangshi City, Hubei Province. The "Mining and Metallurgy Grand Canyon" is the park's core scenic feature, shaped like a giant inverted gourd. It stretches 2,200 meters from east to west, 550 meters from north to south, with a maximum elevation difference of 444 meters and a pit mouth area reaching 1.08 million square meters. It is known as "Asia's First Giant Sinkhole."

Huangshi National Mining Park covers an area of 23.2 square kilometers and is divided into the Daye Iron Mine Main Park and the Tonglushan Ancient Mining Site Area. It boasts Asia’s largest hard-rock reclamation base and is China’s first National Mining Park. It is also Hubei Province’s second “National Industrial Tourism Demonstration Site,” following the Three Gorges Dam, and was included in the “China World Heritage Tentative List” in 2013.

Employing landscape design approaches rooted in ecological restoration, we aim to revive both the natural and cultural ecosystems of the mining area. By focusing park development and construction on promoting mining and metallurgical culture, recreating the civilization of mining and metallurgy, showcasing unique cultural characteristics, enhancing the overall quality of the mining site, and opening up new avenues for tourism, we are creating a “science education base, research and teaching base, cultural exhibition base, and environmental protection demonstration base.” This will provide people with a comprehensive venue integrating tourism, scientific exploration, and research, thereby realizing the theme of harmonious coexistence and shared development between humans and nature.

The park features three major zones: the Geological Environment Exhibition Area, the Mining Industry Expo Zone, and the Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Zone. Centered around the world’s tallest steep slope and Asia’s largest hard-rock reclamation forest, visitors can enjoy a lush oasis of green trees, fragrant peaches and plums, and marvel at the ecological miracle of “planting trees on stone.”

The “Ten Scenic Spots”—including “Sunrise in the East, Mining and Metallurgy Canyon, Mining Expo, Subterranean Exploration, Sky Pit Zipline, Stone Sea Oasis, Ancient Monastery on Ling Mountain, Misty Rain over Zhishan Mountain, Nine Dragon Cave Paradise, and Passionate Grass Sledding—offer visitors a multifaceted experience encompassing a “journey of thought, a journey of discovery, an adventure-filled expedition, and an educational exploration,” thereby satisfying the diverse needs of tourists from different backgrounds and regions who seek knowledge, novelty, wonder, and fun.

Using ecological restoration landscape design as a means, we will restore the ecological environment of the mine park, recreate a pleasant natural landscape, and create an excellent visitor experience.

Rooted in the profound and time-honored culture of the mining industry, we are committed to preserving the historical and cultural relics within the scenic area and offering multi-angle viewpoints, striving to showcase the unique character of mining culture to visitors.

With landscape shaping as the design focus, the project highlights key landscape elements. The scenic area layout, attraction naming, architectural forms, and sculptural installations all strive to reflect the theme of ecological restoration in the mine site.

3 Poetic Gardens: A Mining Ecological Restoration and Tourism Development Model Led by the Creation of Leisure Spaces

Case: The Butchart Gardens in Canada

The Butchart Gardens are a stunning, idyllic landscape built on the site of an abandoned quarry—a private garden located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Over a century ago, the site was a limestone quarry that had served as a cement plant; after the resource was exhausted, the quarry was left to fall into disuse. It was the Butchart couple who, working together, transformed this once-desolate place into the breathtaking garden it is today. Mrs. Butchart ingeniously incorporated the former quarry into her home’s grounds, skillfully blending rare and exotic plants to create the world-famous Low Garden. Many of the flowers and plants used in the garden were personally collected by the couple during their travels around the globe.

The garden covers more than 55 acres and is nestled within a 130-acre estate. Unlike most gardens that feature uniformly flat landscapes, Mrs. Bouchard ingeniously preserved the unique topography of the former quarry site. The garden was initially completed in 1904, and over the generations that followed, it continued to expand thanks to the dedicated efforts of several families. As a result, the garden has evolved to include a rose garden, an Italian garden, and a Japanese-style courtyard. Today, this horticultural masterpiece created by the Bouchard couple attracts over one million visitors each year.

The Butchart Gardens comprise five major garden areas: the Sunken Garden, the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, and the Mediterranean Garden. More than 50 horticulturists work here year-round, meticulously tending to these gardens. From March to October each year, nearly one million plants of over 700 different varieties bloom continuously in the flowerbeds. During other months, visitors can admire plants laden with vibrant berries, as well as shrubs and trees carefully pruned into a variety of shapes. Depending on the season, the Butchart Gardens offer diverse visual experiences, each with its own unique themes and seasonal highlights.

The garden’s pathways crisscross one another, and flower walls and hedges are everywhere. Each thematic area has been designed and completed by specialized landscape designers, and the garden’s daily maintenance and care are also handled by professional horticulturists, ensuring that every flower is presented to visitors in its optimal visual splendor.

Leverage the terrain’s undulations to create landscape layers, transitioning from monotonous gardening to themed park areas.
 

4 Storytelling: A Mining Ecological Restoration and Tourism Development Model Driven by Thematic Cultural Interpretation

Case: Romania Salt Mine Theme Park

The Salina Turda salt mine, located in Romania, has been continuously producing salt since its first documented mention in the 11th century, in 1075, right up until 1932. In 1992, it was transformed into a vibrant theme park featuring a museum, sports facilities, and an amusement park—and was even hailed by Business Insider as "the coolest underground landscape in the world."

Creative Design Concept (Leveraging Creative Thinking to Highlight Distinctive Features): By integrating the infrastructure of former mining sites with modern amusement park facilities and sci-fi-inspired architectural designs, the entire theme park is transformed into a futuristic, extraterrestrial-like technological landscape. Ultimately, its fantastical aesthetic becomes the park’s most striking and distinctive attraction.

Project Development Model (Preserving Existing Resources While Pursuing Diversified Development): Retain the corridors within the original mine pits to create landscaped walkways; preserve the rugged caves and massive stalactites as the park’s natural backdrop; maintain the existing salt-mining transport routes as visitor experience pathways; and keep the original salt lake intact, transforming it into a boating and recreational area.

Specialty Product Setup (with a Strong Sports Theme and Health-Enhancing Features): The theme park features a variety of sports and entertainment venues and facilities, including an underground Ferris wheel, a mini golf course, a bowling alley, sports fields, and boat rides. A wide array of sport-oriented activities is scattered throughout the entire park, available for visitors to enjoy at will. Meanwhile, the spa center and salt mine health resort provide specialized rehabilitation and wellness treatments for guests suffering from certain specific medical conditions.

The salt cave has two entrances, an old one and a new one. Inside, the cave is mainly divided into two levels, each with its own grand hall. An elevator connects the upper and lower levels, but most of the attractions require visitors to explore on foot. The upper-level hall features recreational facilities such as a miniature golf course and a theater. The lower-level hall is situated on a small island at the bottom of the shaft and includes a Ferris wheel and a dock, where visitors can also take a boat ride to enjoy the stunning views.