Tonglushan Mining and Metallurgy Site

The Tongling Mountain Mining and Smelting Heritage Site is a great example of a successful and long-lasting human engineering endeavor. Located in China’s Jiangxi Province, this site is the perfect example of how ancient civilizations used their knowledge and technological advancements to tap into pristine natural resources and reap the benefits of them.

The ancient mining site dates back to the Warring States period (475 -221 B.C). During this period, the surrounding mountain areas were rich in copper and gold ore, which provided the foundation for the Tongling Mountain Smelting operation. By the year 139 B.C., a metal refinery had been established at this site and a system for distributing ore to nearby refineries had been introduced. It is believed that this system proved to be highly successful and its products were used to create coins and other valuable items.

In the late 7th century A.D., the site assumed its new name, “Tong-Ling” or “Golden Mountain. This nickname is derived from the smelter’s use of gold, which earned it its moniker due to the high quality of its many products. By the late 8th century, the refining processes at this site had become even more advanced and sophisticated, allowing the miners to produce ever larger and more complex items such as ironware and porcelain.

As time went on and further technological innovations were introduced, the Tong-Ling site became a highly respected center for mining and smelting. Throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties and beyond, this site became renowned for its ability to extract, refine, and produce a variety of goods. Its reputation attracted workers and craftsmen from all over the globe and it soon became the largest and most influential base of its kind.

With its long and storied history, the Tong-Ling Mountain Mining and Smelting Heritage Site stands as an interesting and inspiring example of an ancient civilization’s success in engineering and resource management. Today, the site is designated as a cultural and historical site. The ancient smelting remains provide a vivid reminder of how our ancestors used their knowledge and resources to create valuable products for generations to come.

Located in Guixi City, Jiangxi Province, China, Tonglu Mountain Mining Smelting Site is an important archaeological site of ancient copper smelting in East Asia. The site covers an area of ​​nearly 9,000 square meters and has a history of three thousand years.

Tonglu Mountain is one of the Chinese ancient copper smelting sites that have been discovered so far. It is mainly composed of copper smelting furnace area and copper processing area. Here, Yangshao and Longshan cultural relics were unearthed one after another, more than 400 copper smelting furnaces, various copper products such as five-bing, inkstone and pig-duck were unearthed.

Tonglu Mountain Mining and Smelting Site has experienced a long and brilliant history of copper smelting. It has made omenationad and indelible contributions to the development of ancient Chinese copper smelting and even the industry, science and technology of ancient China and even the world. In 2009, it was designated as the first national key cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council.

Tonglu Mountain Mining and Smelting Site has become a great tourist attraction of Guixi City. Every year before the Spring Festival, many mining enthusiasts from home and abroad come to the site to pay tribute to the great mountain and feel the history of Chinese smelting. Here, people can not only appreciate the long history and ancient culture hidden in the mountain, but also admire the hard work and resilience of the ancient smelters in the harsh environment.