Benshan Five Pits Introduction
Ben Shan Wu Kang, as the name suggests, is one of the nine tunnels from the prosperous period of Ben Shan mining. It is located on the hillside of Ben Shan at an elevation of approximately 295 meters above sea level. After gold mining in Jinguashi ceased in 1972, Wu Kang faced the fate of being closed in 1978. Wu Kang is the most well-preserved tunnel among the nine mining sites in Ben Shan, with remnants of the air compressors, mining locomotives, washrooms, and ore transportation cableways still intact, serving as a testament to a century of mining history in Jinguashi. In 2004, the Golden Museum planned to allow visitors to experience the working conditions of miners in the dark tunnels, so a new tunnel approximately 110 meters long was excavated above the existing tunnel at Ben Shan Wu Kang, connecting to the old tunnel. The original entrance of Wu Kang, which was 70 meters long, was extended to 180 meters. After more than three months of excavation, it became the Ben Shan Wu Kang Experience Hall, simulating the mining conditions for visitors. In a short experiential process lasting only a few minutes, visitors can catch a glimpse of the hard work of miners at that time. Upon entering Ben Shan Wu Kang, the walls are supported by "niu tiao zi," made from acacia wood, echoing with the sound of flowing water, allowing visitors to immediately feel the humidity of the mine. The yellow-toned lighting on the walls renders the originally rough surfaces a golden hue. Throughout the tunnel, visitors can catch glimpses of miners performing different stages of work, including "setting up the niu tiao," "drilling," "blasting," and "transporting ore," all silently taking place within the mine. A guide leads visitors deeper into the mine, engaging in conversations with the new, younger participants, and meticulously explaining each step of the gold mining process, with their voices resonating through the tunnel, igniting visitors' curiosity to explore further.
