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Retired Miners Shift to Tourism Amid Energy Transition

4/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Yang Haiming, a retired coal miner in Datong, now runs a restaurant serving visitors to the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO site.
China is shifting from coal to renewable energy, leaving former miners facing uncertainty about their futures.
Some adapt, but activists warn the benefits of tourism may not reach all workers.
Shanxi province plans to diversify its economy with tourism as a growth area, while visitor numbers rise.

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Story summary

Yang Haiming, a retired coal miner in Datong, now runs a restaurant serving visitors to the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO site.
China is shifting from coal to renewable energy, leaving former miners facing uncertainty about their futures.
Some adapt, but activists warn the benefits of tourism may not reach all workers.
Shanxi province plans to diversify its economy with tourism as a growth area, while visitor numbers rise.