Page 113 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Heritage and development of Tonglushan mine site

the designated control zone became a central element of 5.3. The aborted Bronze Town project
the Promotion Bureau’s plan to leverage the region’s rich The protection plan proposed expanding the exhibition
mining and metallurgical heritage as a catalyst for regional potential of the Tonglushan area by incorporating several
development. attractions in addition to the original museum. These
The construction of the new site museum building included a modern open-pit mine display area, visits
has spanned nearly 9 years, encompassing site selection, to the mine company’s buildings, ecological grassland
architectural design, construction, and exhibition display. converted from the tailings pond, and a reclamation area
Significant enhancements have also been made to the created from the landfill (Figure 7) . Despite the proposed
3
landscape design within the core protecting section of the land use adjustment plan, modern mining companies in
Tonglushan site (Figure 6). The new façade, inspired by the the region remain operational, albeit at reduced capacity,
underground shafts of the Tonglushan archeological site, rendering these areas unsuitable for regular tourist visits.
complements its historical significance. The main entrance The presence of underground mining equipment near the
has been relocated to the north, and the original eastern exit open-pit area further complicates the creation of scenic
has been redesigned as a parking area, greatly improving attractions and hinders cohesive tourism planning at the
visitor convenience. In addition to semi-exposed features local level in Tonglushan.
such as the Yanyinshan mine and the Ore Body No. 7, visitors Periodic calls for self-guided tourism development
can now observe in situ archeological discoveries, including in the region have surfaced. To reconcile the conflicting
hundreds of Spring and Autumn period tombs belonging to priorities of archeological site protection and the continued
miners and a collection of miners’ barefoot prints. operation of the mining company, the Promotion Bureau
The new museum exhibition comprehensively explains concentrated its construction efforts on available plots in
how copper was discovered and utilized in the Tonglushan the northern sector of the protection area and along the
area. It explores themes such as the region’s mineral Changliu stream. Daye County, where the Tonglushan
resources, ancient prospecting methods, mining technology, area is situated, has recently experienced rapid economic
and smelting techniques. By linking the mining and smelting growth, emerging in 2015 as one of the top 100 County-
remains of Tonglushan during the Shang and Zhou (1046 – level regions in China. The local government envisioned
256 BCE) dynasties to the ritual and musical cultures and a modern urban landscape characterized by high-rise
metal resource utilization of the Chinese Bronze Age, the buildings, wide roads, and vibrant lighting. In line with this
exhibition emphasizes how Tonglushan copper provided vision, the Changliu stream in the Tonglushan area was
essential material support for the illustrious Chinese Bronze designated as a cultural landscape of the County, aiming
Age civilization. Officially opened to the public in June 2023, to incorporate green spaces and waterfront developments
the exhibition received the 2023 National Museum Top emblematic of modern urban living. Consequently, an
Ten Exhibitions as an Excellent Promotion Award (China investment company proposed a plan to develop the
Cultural Relics News, 2024). unoccupied land on the north and south banks of the
While the site museum represents a notable stream.
achievement, it has so far only realized 0.9 percent of the Drawing from the development plan for the Daming
stated scope of the protection plan. Approximately 90 Palace Site in Xi’an (Hsueh, 2013), the investment company
percent of the designated land remains occupied, primarily envisioned branding Tonglushan with an image of “cultural
by the Tonglushan Mine Company. This issue persists and tourism integration.” This plan was further aligned
despite the protection plan receiving central governmental with the “characteristic town” (tese xiaozhen; 特色小镇)
approval. Changing land use remains a common problem program launched by the central government in 2016,
in contemporary China, especially for state-owned sites framing the project as a “Bronze Town.” (HBSJ, 2017) Scenic
such as the Tonglushan ancient copper mine site, which spots on the north and south banks of the Changliu stream
operates at the provincial level and is not managed by the were planned to center around ancient mining institutions
local municipal government. and cultural heritage sites historically significant to Daye
Although all private mining enterprises in the County County. Historical records mention historical cities or
have been closed since 2010, factories and abandoned management institutions such as “Zhangshan Ancient
industrial sites operated by village enterprises remain in 3 This sketch is based on the “The Site Protection Plan of Ancient
a state of disrepair. The new archeological and museum Copper Mine for Tonglushan in Daye City, Hubei”2011: fig.30.
construction projects have utilized portions of cultivated The original picture is in Chinese with details, the author
land from local villagers, with compensation provided for modified it after permission from the Tonglushan Ancient
land requisitions. Copper Mine Site Museum.

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4898