Chenzhou

Chenzhou is located in the southeastern part of Hunan province, about 350 kilometers south of Changsha, bordering Guangdong to the south and Jianxi to the east. This strategic position makes it a gateway to southern China, nestled within the Nanling Mountain Range, offering scenic beauty for explorers.

Chenzhou is renowned for its mineral wealth, particularly tungsten and tin, with the Yaogangxian mine being a historic producer since 1914. Over 236 minerals, including fluorite, quartz, and scheelite, have been recorded here. The area's geology features granite intrusions into sedimentary rocks like sandstone and limestone, forming deposits through skarnification and greisenization, making it a hotspot for collectors.

Mining in Chenzhou started in the early 20th century, with local farmers initially searching for wolframite, now using modern underground methods. The city, known as the "land of the Nine Immortals and Two Buddhas," is steeped in Taoist and Buddhist heritage, with legends and temples attracting cultural enthusiasts. Local cuisine, like Zilong County's "Tanzi Pork," adds flavor to the experience.

Chenzhou enjoys a humid subtropical climate, with heavy spring rains, hot humid summers, dry comfortable autumns, and brief winters with cold snaps. Its ecology, featuring forests, mountains, and lakes, supports diverse flora and fauna, enhancing the natural backdrop for mineral exploration.