How an abandoned factory turned into a famous tourism site

Do you know what asbestos is? It is a mineral fiber that once fueled a booming industrial era in Shimian County, deep in the mountains of Sichuan Province.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this small county, where the Red Army famously crossed the Dadu River in 1935, rose to national fame again thanks to its vast asbestos deposits.

The Sichuan asbestos mine once produced 60% of the country's total output, making a monumental contribution to China's early industrialization.

Yet resources are finite.

As the mines gradually depleted and the old industrial model faded, Shimian faced a new challenge: how to reinvent itself.

Instead of abandoning its industrial heritage, the county chose to transform its decaying factories into vibrant tourist destinations, weaving revolutionary spirit into everyday life.

The abandoned asbestos mine became a museum, bringing back memories of the life in the past.

But the real surprise lies in the cultural quarter.

The old factory dormitories have been transformed into a stylish industrial-chic complex featuring a boutique hotel, a café, and hot springs.

The largest single asbestos piece from the Sichuan Asbestos Mine at Sichuan Memory Exhibition Hall, Shimian County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, Sept.

10, 2026.

Zhang Yize/CGTN.

The largest single asbestos piece from the Sichuan Asbestos Mine at Sichuan Memory Exhibition Hall, Shimian County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, Sept.

10, 2026.