Discover Tangshan: Nanhu, Kailuan and the city’s history

Tangshan combines a green urban landscape with places shaped by its mining history. At its heart is the Tangshan Nanhu·Kailuan Tourist Area and its distinct components: Kailuan National Mine Park and the Tangshan Nanhu Scenic Area. When planning a trip, you can consider whether nature, industrial history or urban culture will shape your stay.

Nanhu: from mining subsidence to a green landscape

Nanhu lies in southern Tangshan, near the city centre. The area originally covered 1,800 hectares and was shaped by mining subsidence. Since 1997, it has undergone extensive rehabilitation and been transformed into a green urban landscape with bodies of water, lush vegetation and numerous waterbirds. This development makes Nanhu a distinctive part of the city’s history: the landscape tells a story not only of nature, but also of how a former mining area was redeveloped.

The Tangshan Nanhu·Kailuan Tourist Area has been awarded national 5A tourist area status. Its two components offer different thematic experiences: the Tangshan Nanhu Scenic Area represents the transformed landscape, while Kailuan National Mine Park focuses on mining history. If you are travelling with family, you can take into account which of these themes interests everyone most when planning your day, rather than giving both equal priority.

Kailuan and Tangshan’s industrial history

Shaft No. 1 of the Kailuan Group’s Tangshan Mine is located in the urban area. It was sunk in 1878, and mechanised extraction has taken place there for more than 140 years. The Tangshan Mine was the first mechanised coal mine in mainland China. This gives Tangshan a significant connection to industrial history, extending beyond Nanhu’s landscape. If you are interested in the development of mining, you can take this historical focus into account when choosing your destinations.

Peiren Historical Culture Street is also part of Tangshan’s urban history. The Tangshan Cultural Tourism Group created this historic cultural and lifestyle district in the centre of the industrial heritage area. Traditional-style architecture and nostalgic culture meet modern commercial uses there. The street was selected as a national tourism and leisure street. For trip planning, it offers another urban-themed area alongside the transformed landscape and mining heritage.

Green route and active days

A super green route connects Nanhu and Tangshan Flower Sea. It also passes Tangshan Industrial Museum, Qixin 1889 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, Peiren Historical Culture Street and Kailuan National Mine Park. A football park, an urban football pitch, a football-themed hotel and a 16.9-kilometre fitness trail have also been created in the Tangshan Nanhu·Kailuan Tourist Area and its surrounding areas. The trail’s exact length may be relevant when planning your day, but on its own it says nothing about the duration or difficulty.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Tangshan, it makes sense to first decide on your preferred focus: will your trip centre mainly on Nanhu and its transformed landscape, will mining history take priority, or would you like to include urban cultural sites? The places mentioned are in different areas of Tangshan. So base your search on the part of the city that suits your travel plans, and check accommodation locations against your own requirements.

Other destinations in this selection: Langfang, Handan, Hengshui, Xingtai, Zhangjiakou, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao and Cangzhou.

Go to the main travel overview: Hebei.