CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- On the coming 53rd World Earth Day, the Chongqing Planning and Nature Resources Bureau has made an event to popularize the scientific knowledge in the Bayu region - “Cross the Chongqing’s bridge - pay a visit to Tongluoshan Mountain”. Many primary school students, reporters and amateur geologists have come to the Tongluoshan Mine Park and appreciated its scenes after ecological restoration.

The Tongluoshan Mountain is one of the “Four Mountains” in the downtown areas of Chongqing. It used to be the largest limestone mining area in Yubei District. There was a period of time when over one hundred mining enterprises, the largest number in history, were mining here. And the event was held in the Tongluoshan Mine Park.

However, the mines in the park are different from what we think they should be. In the aerial camera, the lakes are like pearls inlaid in the mountains. When we ramble around the park, it is as if we have walked into a fairyland.

“It’s gorgeous!”, “It’s like a pearl!” Standing on the No. 7 pit, an observation spot, the kids were chatting with each other. “Kids, do you know why the water in the mine pit has the same color as jade?”, asked a worker from Chongqing Geology Minerals Prospect Development Bureau Chuan Southeast Geology Brigade.

It turns out that, long ago, the large-scale open-pit mining activities here caused the mines to be hollowed out. Furthermore, the lands were damaged and vegetation ruined. All these brought about serious ecological degradation to this area, leaving 41 huge pits here.

As the efforts of ecological protection have been made, the mines here have been shut down. Besides, the mines have been restored. Thus, pondings have been gradually formed in the pits. The pondings are rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, thus forming a deep pool of clear water in the unique environment. That is why the park is known as the Chongqing version of the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve.

Wandering through the park, Ai Dali, the personnel of the Chuan Southeast Geology Brigade, continued to explain the geological phenomenon along the way to the kids. “The rocks with ripple marks are formed by the flowing water, which can prove that this area was once an ocean”, “The limestone was eroded after being exposed to the carbon dioxide for a long time. The dissolution grooves on this rock are the best evidence”...

In less than half a day, the on-site personnel explained the fault structure, ripple marks, karst and other geological phenomena in the park with vivid experiments and real objects. "I also made a little experiment today. I saw that limestone would produce bubbles when it was mixed with the dilute hydrochloric acid. I also learned about many kinds of stones," said Zhou Yatong, a sixth-grade student at Xingguang Primary School. From what I have learned today, I realize that the resources on the earth are rather rare, so we must cherish the natural environment and resources around us. (Translated by Huang Ziming, Fathom Language Limited)