China's 816 Nuclear Project: From Secret Facility to Tourist Attraction

• •The 816 Project was a secret nuclear facility in China that never produced plutonium.
• •Construction involved over 60,000 workers and took 18 years, from 1966 to 1984.
• •The site is now a tourist attraction, despite concerns about worker health and safety.

The 816 Nuclear Military Engineering installation in Chongqing, China, was built between 1966 and 1984 by over 60,000 workers to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, but it never became operational. The facility, which includes the world's largest network of man-made tunnels, was kept secret for decades, with nearby residents relocated and the site disappearing from maps. Today, it has been repurposed as a tourist attraction, allowing visitors to explore its vast underground chambers. Despite its historical significance, concerns remain about the health impacts on workers who labored under hazardous conditions, with reports of lung problems and inadequate pensions. The site is now open to the public, highlighting its Cold War history.