Each grain of sand in this desert embodies the hard work of the local people. Therefore, when Japan proposed to exchange 1 kg of rice for 1 kg of sand from here, it was declined.
Deserts are one of the diverse terrains in China. When mentioning deserts, most people immediately think of the famous arid regions located in the northwest of the country. However, not all deserts in the vast nation are concentrated in this area.
Deserts are one of the common terrain types in China.
In Linxiang City, Hunan Province, located in southern China, the “most valuable” desert has existed here for 50 years. Although it has a small area, the Jiangnan Desert has many unique features.
Many people are somewhat skeptical; how can Jiangnan, an area with high annual rainfall, form a desert? In reality, this is an artificial desert. The Jiangnan Desert is a historical mark of the country’s modernization efforts.
Jiangnan is an artificial desert formed over 50 years, covering nearly 300,000 m2 with a depth of 50 m.
In 1958, a company began mining lead-zinc ore in this area. This was a large-scale project involving over 4,000 workers. Nearly 100 tons of tailings, after washing, which did not cause environmental pollution, were transported to a nearby hill via pipeline.
The deposition of tailings over the past 50 years has formed an artificial desert covering nearly 300,000 m2 with a depth of 50 m.
The sand in the Jiangnan Desert is exceptionally fine. Since this sea of sand was formed from tailings, under sunlight, the desert sparkles. For this reason, the area is also known as Silver Beach.
Tailings are the waste material produced during the mineral processing. Inside the tailings, there are still useful mineral contents. Because the mineral processing process never achieves 100% efficiency, this “waste” remains a very precious resource.
Having learned about the Jiangnan Desert, Japan once proposed to China to exchange 1 kg of rice for 1 kg of sand here, but this was not accepted. They understood that each grain of sand here represents the hard work of the miners.
Although not infinite, Jiangnan gives people the feeling of standing in the Gobi Desert. As it becomes a popular destination, various development projects related to the desert, such as sculpture, motocross, or horseback riding on the sand, are gradually being developed…
With its unique beauty, Jiangnan has become a hotspot for many tourists, especially those who have never set foot in a desert.
Motocross on the sand is one of the activities for adventure seekers.
Here, you can experience horseback riding around the Jiangnan Desert.
If you feel that the fun here is not enough, you can visit the nearby artificial cave 6501. The entire mountain has been hollowed out, making it the largest artificial cave in the area. The purpose and function of this cave remain a mystery, but an impressive feature is that it is always warm in winter and cool in summer.
