Abandoned Mine Pits Regain New Life, and the Integration of Culture and Tourism Builds a Benchmark —
In Shiqiang Town, Zoucheng City, Jining, Shandong Province, a once-destroyed abandoned mine has been transformed into a comprehensive cultural and tourism destination integrating dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping—this is Lvxinchun Oriental Paradise. The project, with "ecological restoration + cultural tourism development" as its core logic and adhering to the "sports and leisure +" development model, not only fills the gap in large-scale comprehensive leisure industry in the region but also creates a vivid example of innovative rural cultural tourism development, achieving a triple win of ecological, economic, and social benefits.
I. Project Background: Solving the problem of mine pit management and filling the gap in cultural tourism.
As a traditional industrial city, Zoucheng has many abandoned mine pits left over from mining operations, which have damaged the ecological environment and hindered rural development. Meanwhile, with the improvement of residents' living standards, the demand for high-quality leisure and cultural tourism products in the surrounding areas is growing rapidly. However, the region lacks large-scale, comprehensive amusement destinations with diverse business formats, and the supply of family-friendly and suburban tourism products is insufficient. Against this backdrop, Shandong Luxinchun Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. accurately grasped the dual demands of market demand and ecological governance, selecting an abandoned mine pit area in Shiqiang Town as the site for the Luxinchun Oriental Paradise project. The aim is to revitalize idle resources through cultural tourism development and transform "wasteland" into "treasure land."
II. Innovative Measures: Multi-dimensional Breakthroughs to Build a New Pattern of Integrated Cultural Tourism Development
(I) Prioritizing ecology and making efficient use of mine resources
The project innovatively combines ecological restoration with cultural tourism development. Core sections such as the water park and non-powered amusement park are built directly on the terrain of the abandoned mine pit. This not only significantly reduces the cost of mine restoration but also utilizes the natural elevation differences and spatial layout of the pit to create a unique recreational experience. Simultaneously, the park includes a 200-acre natural green area, creating a natural "cool island" that lowers the perceived temperature by 5°C, enhancing visitor comfort while simultaneously optimizing the ecological environment.
(II) Comprehensive business layout to create a year-round operation system
To break the traditional dilemma of "seasonal idleness" in amusement parks, Green Spring Oriental Amusement Park has built a business system that covers all seasons and all age groups. The park has a total investment of 310 million yuan and covers an area of 45,000 square meters. Its core business encompasses four major sections: In summer, the main attraction is a water park with over 30 water play facilities, including a 7,000㎡ giant tsunami pool, Shandong's only "Iron Man" slide, and a water roller coaster, capable of accommodating 3,000 people simultaneously; in winter, a professional ski resort covering over 200 acres features multiple ski runs, including intermediate, beginner, and children's runs, equipped with internationally advanced snowmaking equipment, capable of accommodating over 2,000 skiers simultaneously, making it the ski resort with the most abundant ski runs and the most complete facilities in Jining; the regularly operating "Power Park" boasts Jining's tallest Ferris wheel at 160 meters, "Green Eye," as well as over 20 graded rides such as roller coasters, drop towers, and carousels, catering to different age groups; and the "Non-Powered Park" centers around facilities such as a magic castle and colorful slides, creating a dedicated space for parent-child interaction. In addition, the park includes a business incubation center, guesthouses, and a catering center, forming a complete cultural tourism industry chain.
(III) Integrating culture and tourism, and strengthening the empowerment of themed activities
The project delves deeply into the local cultural characteristics of Zoucheng, seamlessly integrating traditional culture with modern entertainment. During the Spring Festival, it offers themed activities such as folk performances and parent-child interactive games, allowing visitors to experience the festive atmosphere while having fun. Leveraging the popularity of the Asian Winter Games, it hosts large-scale events such as the "Good Luck Shandong" 2024 Shandong Ice and Snow Carnival (Jining Station), igniting public enthusiasm with innovative formats like ice and snow science popularization orienteering competitions. Simultaneously, through diversified operational methods such as "one-ticket-for-all" pricing strategies, nighttime electronic music parties, and water and fire light shows, it continuously enhances the visitor experience and repeat purchase rate.
(iv) Government-enterprise collaboration to leverage policies and promote development
The Zoucheng Municipal Government attaches great importance to the development of the cultural and tourism industry, incorporating Luxinchun Oriental Park into the regional all-for-one tourism development plan and providing support through policy guidance and resource integration. At the project's opening ceremony, city leaders and heads of the cultural and tourism departments attended the launch. Subsequently, the government will leverage its platform to promote the "Enjoy the Four Seasons, Magnificent Shiqiang, All-for-One Tourism" series of activities, attracting visitors to the park and fostering a positive pattern of government-enterprise collaborative development.
III. Project Outcomes: A Double Harvest of Economic and Social Benefits
In terms of social benefits, the park has directly boosted the annual income of four surrounding villages by over 2 million yuan, created 500 new jobs, and helped villagers increase their average annual income by about 40,000 yuan, effectively promoting rural revitalization. Meanwhile, the project's successful operation has provided a replicable "Zoucheng model" for the ecological restoration of abandoned mine pits. It has been reported by authoritative media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, becoming a typical example of transforming an "industrial rust belt" into a "living showcase belt," injecting new vitality into the high-quality development of the cultural tourism industry in Jining and even southwestern Shandong.