As the first sunshine reveals, the heatwave has yet to surge. At the 180-acre ecological agriculture experimental field of Zhunneng Group’s Production Service Center, people are already bustling about. Cucumbers with blossom and spines cover the trellises, eggplants with a lustrous purple sheen gleam in the sunlight, and clusters of fresh kidney beans hang like delicate green tassels—this once barren mine dump now exudes a fresh, fragrant aroma of vegetables and fruits. Workers wear straw hats, with sweat trickling down their cheeks into the soil beneath their feet. Dew-covered fresh marrows are swiftly picked and loaded onto trucks, and then carried to the mine canteen. The fresh sweetness grown from the land interprets the profound connotation that “l(fā)ucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” in the most straightforward way, making its way to miners’ dining tables.
“Planting vegetables in the mine was initially to let everyone eat safe, home-grown vegetables”, said Duan Guojun, leader of the Greening Team at the Production Service Center, standing amidst the bustling fields. Year after year, shovel by shovel, the dedicated employees at Zhunneng Group have cultivated a total of 76.335 million trees and shrubs on the barren mine dump. Through persistent efforts, the mine area’s reclamation rate has reached 100%, with vegetation coverage soaring from the initial 25% to over 85%, and over 240 plant species thriving on the field. Rare birds, including the Ruddy Shelduck and swans have settled here, and the once “dust-filled landscape” has transformed into a vibrant “Saihanba oasis of coalfield” —an authentic reflection of the philosophy of “l(fā)ucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” taking root in every corner of the hundred-mile-wide mining region.
As the green hue gradually became the foundational color of the mine, Zhunneng Group’s staff began to think further: how to extract even more tangible ecological dividends from this green land? The answer is the ecological agriculture pilot project—in the heartlands of the mine, the harvest of happiness bringing tangible benefits to employees.
Sticking to the principle of “mining, while reclaiming and benefiting the people”, the greening team formulates planting plans based on feedback from the canteen regarding employee demands, selecting high economic value and cost-effective crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh kidney beans, and marrows, and transforming the reclaimed land into a source of tangible benefits for employees. Early, mid, and late-harvest crops are scientifically combined to create a green channel that goes directly “from field to fork”.
This green revolution, which began with ecological restoration, has borne sweet fruit that benefits the community. Rafael, a Brazilian visitor, marveled during a visit to the ecological tourism zone: “It’s incredible to imagine that this land was once a coal mine!” Today, the Zhunneng Mine Ecological Tourism Zone has been awarded the prestigious titles including the National 4A-Level Scenic Area and National Industrial Tourism Demonstration Base. The benefits have also extended even more tangibly to local people: Zhou Jibiao, a villager from Shi’erliancheng Town, has been earning from RMB 50,000 to 60,000 annually by raising sheep at home through the “animal care and husbandry service provided by farmers” model of the mine’s ecological company. By working with local governments, the Group has helped farmers sell over ten thousand sheep, more than a hundred beef cattle, and millions of pounds of agricultural products—the lucid waters and lush mountains have truly been transformed into tangible wealth for the people.
From the first sapling to lush orchards and gardens filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, the dedicated Zhunneng staff have spent decades steadfastly embodying the principle that “l(fā)ucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” into every corner of the mine. The fruits and vegetables, imbued with the earthy aroma of the soil, not only nourish the miners’ bodies but also nurture the future of sustainable development. Every sweet bite is the most genuine and heartwarming taste of the invaluable fruits of clear waters and green mountains; every new green sprout scripts a new chapter of harmonious coexistence between man and nature in the mine.
