Journey to the End of Coal

Shanxi, China is a region known for alarming levels of pollution and corruption, but it is also the most dangerous coal mining region in the world. Half a million miners are resigned to the fact they have no choice but to risk their life if they want to make a decent living.
This story begins in Datong which is located just a couple hours West from Beijing. In this web documentary the viewer travels around the region and visits the major coal mines, from the state-owned complex to the private ones. In and around the coal mines, you learn the story from the mingong, the rural migrants traveling their country looking for work. At the viewers own pace, you meet them at their home, at the Church, on the road, or at work. You hear about how they live their life in this valley of death and pollution, sometimes even literally bumping into them as they leave their home for their night shift, in the frozen winter of Northern China.

Unfortunately, the technology used to make this interactive project available online is no longer supported. However, new solutions to preserve and update projects technically are continuously being explored within the interactive field. Whenever possible, we will bring this project back online.