China's first nuclear weapons research and production base in
the northwestern Qinghai Province has been declassified and
opened to tourists.
"The underground headquarters of the nuclear weapons research
and production base has remained a curiosity to many people. Now
they can see the 'nuclear city' for themselves," said Zuo Xumin, an
official with the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture where the
base is located.
"The base will be developed into a key travel site, and it will
become a platform for spurring the patriotic spirit of Chinese
people," Zuo said.
Known as "Atomic Town," the base was the birthplace of China's
first atomic and hydrogen bombs. It was built in 1958 on the
grassland in the north region of Qinghai, covering more than 1,100
sq km.
It was closed by the government in 1987 to support the demands
for a complete ban on and the destruction of the world's nuclear
weapons. It was handed over to the local government in 1993.
The headquarters of the base built with reinforced concrete
comprises eight large rooms 9.3 meters below the ground.
Tourists can visit the rooms, which originally held a research
laboratory, a command room, electricity generation room and
telegraph transmitting room, but are now almost empty.
A museum has been built at the base, now named Xihai Township,
where old telegraphs, telephones, machines, clothes, bowls and food
coupons belonging to the people who worked at the base are
exhibited.
Local government began in April to build a memorial and a park
with a total investment of 72.48 million yuan (US$9.4 million) at
the former base. They are expected to be completed in October
2008.
Hotels and restaurants are also being built in the township.
Last year, the government allocated 93 million yuan (US$12
million) to better preserve the base.
The money was spent on building exhibition halls, renovating
buildings and improving the natural environment, according to the
Qinghai Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2007)