Through ecological restoration and redevelopment efforts, Anji County in east China's Zhejiang Province has successfully transformed a once-abandoned mine pit into a stunning tourist destination with a picturesque lake.

Nestled in Hongmiao Village of Anji, a coffeehouse has gained internet fame as a must-visit tourist attraction, captivating visitors with more than 50 photo spots surrounding the heart-shaped lake. The coffeehouse has already welcomed over 200,000 visitors in the first half of this year.
"Not only is it a great spot for taking photos, but I also find it a pure delight to just sitting here and think about nothing," said a visitor.
Before 2022, this picturesque spot used to be a mine pit that had endured significant environmental damage caused by extensive mining activities, leading to deforestation and severe soil erosion.
After recognizing the urgent need for change, the village started restoring the devastated mining site. Through meticulous redevelopment and thoughtful design, the abandoned mine pit has been transformed into a tourist attraction with a lake sparkling vivid green in the sunshine.
Authorities meticulously identified over 80 abandoned mines within the county using satellite imagery, paving way for similar transformations and creating a network of sustainable tourist destinations throughout Anji County.
Moving forward, they will develop customized governance plans for each mine, considering their unique characteristics and regional attributes. These plans aim to restore the ecological systems of the mines while also creating more distinctive mining area attractions.
"By leveraging the policy of redeveloping underutilized land, we will integrate the unique terrain and landforms of these abandoned mines and mine pits into the surrounding natural environment. This approach seeks to achieve ecological, economic, and social benefits at the same time," said Yan Xuefeng, officer of mineral resource management in Anji County.
Wednesday marks World Environment Day, a United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the planet's environment.
This year's World Environment Day focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.