The 816 Project Scenic Area is located in Baitao Street, Fuling District, Chongqing Municipality. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, as well as the only declassified and open nuclear industry site in China, a national key cultural relics protection unit, and a national national defense education demonstration base. With the shocking underground nuclear project site as its core feature, the scenic area combines historical depth with popular science education value, making it a unique integrated destination for red tourism, industrial tourism, and science popularization tourism. Construction of the 816 Project began in 1967. As a secret underground nuclear raw material factory built by China during the Cold War to respond to the international situation, the project had a total investment of 746 million RMB and took 17 years to construct. By the time construction was suspended in 1984, 85% of the construction work and 60% of the installation work had been completed. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 104,000 square meters, with the core area being the underground project part, covering a total construction area of 104,000 square meters. The main cave chamber is 79.6 meters high with a vault span of 31.2 meters. The cave group consists of 18 large and small caves, and the total length of roads, access tunnels, branch tunnels, and other passages is about 20 kilometers. The overlapping and interlacing caves are magnificent, known as the "Underground Great Wall." The project is constructed with reinforced concrete pouring, featuring a main structure with strong nuclear explosion resistance and complete internal systems for ventilation, drainage, and power supply, fully demonstrating China's top-level engineering and technical capabilities at that time.
History and Culture
The birth of the 816 Project is closely related to a specific historical background. In the 1960s, the international situation was tense, and China faced nuclear threats. To break the nuclear monopoly and ensure national security, the Party Central Committee made the strategic decision of the "Third Front Construction," and the 816 Project emerged as an important nuclear industry project within this framework. In 1967, the project was secretly launched in Baitao Town, Fuling, Chongqing. The site was chosen due to its natural advantages such as high mountains and deep valleys, hard geology, and proximity to the Yangtze River, which provided strong concealment and sufficient water sources, making it suitable for the construction of underground nuclear facilities.
The construction task of the project was undertaken by the 54th and 56th Divisions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Corps of Engineers. Tens of thousands of officers, soldiers, and engineering and technical personnel concealed their identities and worked day and night in the isolated mountain valleys. During the construction process, the builders overcame numerous difficulties such as complex geology, simple equipment, and lack of materials. With strong will and exquisite technology, they excavated a huge underground engineering system in the hard mountain. The project was designed with complete functions, covering multiple areas such as nuclear raw material processing, nuclear reaction experiments, command and dispatch, and living support. Some caves also had multiple protection capabilities against nuclear radiation, shock waves, and chemical weapons.
In 1984, with the relaxation of the international situation and the adjustment of China's national defense strategy, the 816 Project was officially suspended and sealed. In 2002, with the approval of the State Council, the 816 Project was declassified; in 2010, the scenic area was officially opened to the public, uncovering the mysterious veil of this "underground nuclear castle" to the world. As an important historical witness to the Third Front Construction, the 816 Project carries the dedication and sacrifice of a generation and embodies the development footprint of China's national defense industry. Its "Third Front Spirit" of "hard work, selfless dedication, unity and cooperation, and courage to innovate" has become a precious spiritual wealth and has been included in the list of national red tourism classic scenic areas.
Major Attractions
Main Site of the Underground Nuclear Project
The main site of the underground nuclear project is the core attraction of the scenic area and one of the largest artificial cave building complexes in the world. Excavated from the mountain, the cave is mainly composed of 18 large caves and supporting facilities, including the main reactor building, auxiliary reactor building, nuclear waste treatment plant, central control room, self-contained power station, water diversion tunnel, and exhaust tunnel, with a total construction area of 104,000 square meters and a total length of various passages of about 20 kilometers. The main reactor building is the core cave, 79.6 meters high (equivalent to the height of a 26-story building) with a vault span of 31.2 meters. It is constructed with double-layer reinforced concrete pouring, with the thickest wall thickness reaching 1.5 meters, capable of resisting magnitude 8 earthquakes and megaton-level nuclear weapon explosion impacts. The plant retains complete reactor bases, control consoles, pipeline systems, and other facilities, and some equipment still maintains the state when construction was suspended, intuitively demonstrating the scale and technical level of nuclear industry facilities at that time.
Visitors do not need to worry about nuclear radiation. The project was stopped before it was officially put into use, so it did not participate in nuclear reactions.
"Insight 816" Immersive Performance
Taking the veteran soldier Li Jiangchuan's return to his old place to find his younger brother Li Haiyang as the entry point, the performance travels back to the era when the 816 cave was excavated. Through a series of stories such as assembly, struggle, cave digging, sacrifice, and oath-taking, it tells the 18-year struggle history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and scientific and technological personnel in building the 816 Project, comprehensively showing the revolutionary spiritual outlook of New China's builders. The performance lasts about 50 minutes, and a separate ticket is required.
Travel Route
Just follow the guide throughout the whole journey and do not fall behind. The cave has a large area and complex roads, and getting lost is likely if you stray from the group. The entire tour takes about 1.5 hours; if you purchase a performance ticket, it will take about 2.3 hours.
Travel Tips
- Some caves of the underground project in the scenic area are deep and the passages are complex. It is recommended to tour with official guides, who can help you gain an in-depth understanding of the historical background and technical details while avoiding getting lost. Guided tours are provided free of charge, with departures every 20 minutes or so.
- The temperature in the underground caves is maintained at 18-22℃ all year round with high humidity. It is advisable to bring a light coat during the tour to avoid catching cold.
- The core tourist area of the scenic area is the underground project. Some passages have gentle slopes but are relatively long. It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes for long walks.
- There are multiple photo spots in the Third Front Construction Memorial Hall and the underground project, but the use of flash and tripods is prohibited in some areas. Please abide by the scenic area regulations when taking photos and take good care of cultural relics and facilities.
- The scenic area is highly informative and suitable for visiting with children for educational purposes. It is recommended to learn about the relevant historical background in advance to better appreciate the cultural value of the scenic area.
- There are many tourists during the peak tourist seasons (March-May and September-November). It is recommended to avoid the peak hours on weekends and holidays and choose to visit on working days for a better experience. During peak periods, tickets can be purchased in advance to reduce waiting time.
Notes
- After entering the underground nuclear project site, strictly abide by the scenic area regulations. Do not leave the tourist route without permission, touch equipment and facilities, or enter unopened areas to avoid safety accidents.
- Smoking, littering, and loud noise are prohibited in the scenic area. Please maintain a clean environment and orderly tourist experience to jointly protect historical and cultural heritage.
- Some areas of the underground caves have dim lighting, and there may be slight water accumulation on the ground. Please pay attention to your steps when walking and take good care of the elderly and children.
- It is prohibited to carry flammable, explosive, controlled knives, and other dangerous items, as well as drones, selfie sticks, and other equipment that may affect tourist safety into the core area of the scenic area.
- Please take good care of your personal belongings. There are many tourists in the scenic area, so beware of loss. If any items are lost or assistance is needed, please contact the scenic area staff in a timely manner.
- Some areas of the scenic area are not suitable for tourists with heart disease, hypertension, asthma, and other diseases. Such tourists should carefully consider visiting based on their physical health and consult the scenic area medical service point in advance if necessary.
Transportation
- Public Transportation: Departing from downtown Chongqing, take a long-distance bus to Fuling District at stations such as Chongqing North Railway Station and Caiyuanba Bus Station (travel time is about 1.5 hours, ticket price is 35-45 RMB); after arriving at Fuling Bus Terminal, transfer to a bus to Baitao Street (Fuling Bus Routes 105 and 109, travel time is about 40 minutes, ticket price is 5 RMB), and walk about 10 minutes after getting off to reach the scenic area entrance.
- Self-Driving: Departing from downtown Chongqing, drive about 100 kilometers along the Chongqing-Fuling Expressway (G50S), exit at Fuling South, and drive about 15 kilometers along Baitao Street towards the Wujiang River to reach the scenic area parking lot. The whole journey takes about 1.5-2 hours. The parking fee standard of the scenic area is 10 RMB per time for small vehicles and 20 RMB per time for large vehicles.
- Scenic Area Direct Bus: Some travel agencies and tourist distribution centers in downtown Chongqing operate direct buses to the 816 Project Scenic Area, with fixed departures every day. The travel time is about 2 hours, and the round-trip ticket price is about 100 RMB per person (including the scenic area ticket). Tickets can be booked online in advance or purchased at the tourist distribution center for consultation.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open all year round (except for special circumstances, which will be notified in advance through official channels). The daily opening hours are 09:00-17:00, and the last entry time is 16:00. The guided tour service time is synchronized with the opening hours, with centralized tours organized every 20 minutes, and the last guided tour departs at 16:00. During the high-temperature period in summer (June-August), the opening hours are extended to 08:30-17:30, and the last entry time is adjusted to 16:30 to meet the needs of tourists for summer leisure and sightseeing.
Tickets
Scenic Area Ticket: 65 RMB per person. Performance Ticket: 80 RMB per person. Combined Ticket (Scenic Area + Performance): 120 RMB per person. You can search for the official WeChat service account "816工程景区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.