816 Nuclear Military Plant - World’s Largest Artificial Cave

In 1960s, after the proposal of building the own military rear of each province by Chairman Mao, over 4 million officials, scholars, workers, etc. went to the plain southwestern and north western China to build plants for war preparation. In such background, the 816 Nuclear Military Plant was constructed severely secretly under the order of the Prime Minister Zhou Enlai from 1966. Until 1984, the whole project was urgently halted by the government, when 85% of the architecture project and 65% of installation project has been finished. Until 2004, 816 Nuclear Military Plant was agreed by the state to be decrypted, and in 2010, it was first opened to the public as a tourist place, thus people from the whole world could visit it to know its construction and the background history of that time in China and the world.

World Largest Artificial Cave

The whole cave was constructed into over 20 kilometers long, with 19 large-scaled caves, over 130 diverse paths, tunnels, shafts, etc. With over 79.6 meters in height and 9 floors, the cave is mainly as high as a 30-floor high building, even with elevators applied. This cave project is like a drawer that gives many surprises during your tour, with your finding there are caves in buildings and buildings appear in caves, like a maze. Once visitors enter the cave, they would find this megaproject really amazing.

Nuclear Reactor Hall

In this hall, the “bottom of the pot” for doing the nuclear reaction with a diameter of over 20 meters could be clearly viewed on the 8th floor. On the 9th floor displays the most advanced computer and instruments at that time, which was planned to supervise and control the nuclear reaction. All the advanced techniques of China and the patriotism of the soldier and contributors can be imagined now.

Project Working Demonstration

Using the green lights at the “bottom of the pot”, visitors could see the imitating lights of the nuclear reaction on the 3rd floor of 101 zone. Furthermore, a lot of blue and red LED lights lines and belts could be appreciated in the water division cave, from which visitors could know clearly about the water supply system of the whole project. besides, other key parts of 816 Nuclear Military Plant are presented with lights, such as the pipelines, electricity supply, ventilation, tunnel ways, etc., therefore, people would get the layout and excellent design of the project from that time.

Moreover, many historical relics and some items of soldiers are also displayed in the cave for your better understanding of the background history and the stories of those contributing great people to their nation