coal mine

I was asked by our local Datong guide whether we preferred a tour of scenic spots or a trip down a coal mine. The choice was simple and two hours later we were sitting in an office at the Datong Coal Mine negotiating a price for joining a group of miners travelling 300 metres underground and then a further two miles underground to the coal face. Let’s be clear here, the trip was not specially organised for us, the mine has developed a tourist attraction by allowing visitors to experience the life of a coal miner, but this is very different to your usual Disney experience.

You are taken to a room to change into the same clothing the miners use then through a side door you join the queue of workers to be taken down the mine. It is as real as you get and an amazing experience. Once at the coal face you split off room the workers and are taken on a walking tour that introduces the different technologies used over the years ending up at a surreal gift shop. You then rejoin the miners, this time covered in soot, for the journey back to the surface. Altogether a fascinating way to spend the afternoon, the only drawback is that they are strict on no pictures so there is nothing to show for the experience.

picture: DJ and Shu about to descend.

Labels: Team A

Post by D J Clark ｜ 11:45 PM ｜ Permalink ｜ E-mail ｜ RSS Feed ｜