CHANGSHA: Li Jianda’s father recently shared his hopes of returning to his hometown, a mining area with a constantly improving environment and a state-of-the-art healthcare center in the works. Li felt inspired by his father’s words, which point to the fresh start being given to the town where he grew up.
The mine mentioned by Li’s father was built in 1958 in Suxian District of the city of Chenzhou, located in central China’s Hunan Province. Both Li’s grandfather and father belonged to the earlier cohort of miners who devoted the majority of their youth to the industry during the 20th century.
However, following the mine’s closure in 2004, a mass exodus of workers ensued, leading to the gradual deterioration of the once-prosperous mining community. As the years passed, the mine’s initial office building and dormitory zone fell into a state of disrepair.
The “fresh start” Li alluded to pertains to the recent revitalization and enhancement of the former mining area, with a focus on the living environment, infrastructure, medical and health care, as well as cultural and tourism development.
Now, a walk through the area reveals a clean and well-lit environment that exudes historical charm.
The landscape features red-brick structures, smoothly paved asphalt roads, an assortment of vegetation and an abundance of streetlights. –Agencies
