Inside China’s Hidden Working Class Mine Town

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Deep in the mountains of Jang, this town once existed because of what was hidden underground. Today, in a rare journey beneath the mountain, we're exploring the mines.

[00:00:18]In this video, we're going to explore Fang Shan, a 600-year-old mining community deep in the mountains of Jedjang Province in China. Production here stopped in 2017, but it's still possible to head inside one of the mines and explore some of the old communities nearby. Leave a comment. Let me know what you think of this place. And don't forget to like and subscribe.

[00:00:54]For over 600 years, Fang Shan was home to what was once the world's largest alum mine.

[00:01:04]The 312 shaft became one of the mine's main transport routes, carrying workers deep beneath the mountain every single day.

[00:01:32]I don't know.

[00:02:02]The deeper we moved into the tunnels, the more disconnected the outside world started to feel.

[00:02:11]All that remained was the sound of the tracks, the damp air, and the feeling of disappearing further beneath the mountain.

[00:02:24]Strangely, the deeper we went, the quieter and more peaceful everything became, as though the noise of the outside world had been left somewhere far above us.

[00:02:49]23.

[00:03:09]Oh, it's okay.

[00:03:28]Heat. Heat.

[00:04:08]This underground meeting hall made the mine feel less like tunnels and more like a hidden world beneath the mountain.

[00:05:08]Seriously.

[00:05:43]Heat. Heat.

[00:06:04]Imagine seeing the blue sky again after spending most of the day underground.

[00:06:30]Hey.

[00:07:25]The buildings may slowly fade with time.

[00:07:29]But the weight of the lives once spent here still feels strangely present.

[00:08:14]Hallelujah.

[00:08:57]Walking through the village, it felt impossible to separate the mountain from the lives built around it.

[00:09:07]Even now, traces of the mine seem to linger quietly in the dark stone homes and streets nearby.

[00:09:52]Thank you.

[00:09:58]Let's do it.

[00:10:35]Yeah. How come?

[00:11:06]It's strange how quickly places like this begin to slow your thoughts down.

[00:11:39]Heat. Heat.

[00:11:58]Heat.

[00:12:08]Heat.

[00:12:19]Heat.

[00:12:36]Heat.

[00:13:00]Even after everything changed here, the rhythm of everyday life still quietly continues.

[00:13:37]Hallelujah.

[00:13:47]Hallelujah.

[00:13:57]Hallelujah.

[00:14:09]the light of Oh, you are the Lord.

[00:14:45]Oh, We are Oh, sometimes the quietest places leave the strongest feeling behind.

[00:16:10]Yeah.

[00:16:21]Nha.

[00:16:34]So yeah, how can Oh yeah.

[00:17:04]Come on.

[00:17:50]The mine may have closed, but life here never completely stopped.

[00:18:09]It's Christmas.

[00:18:24]Heat. Heat.

[00:18:59]Heat.

[00:19:03]Heat.

[00:19:29]Wonderful.