816 Nuclear Military Plant
Encyclopedia
816 Nuclear Military Plant , is a Chinese
underground nuclear base, and the largest in the world. The nuclear base is located in what is now suburban Chongqing
, a municipality
in Southwest China
. It is a military
megaproject
.
”. The project was started in 1966 when Sino-Soviet relations
dramatically declined (see also the Sino-Soviet split
). To enhance China's national defence
and prevent possible Soviet invasion and nuclear attack, the project was approved (directly by then-Premier Zhou Enlai
) and undertaken in secret. More than 60,000 engineering soldiers
of the People's Liberation Army
participated in the construction of the base. The underground base was designed to be able to tolerate thousands of tons of TNT explosives and 8-magnitude
earthquake
s.
The surface area of the cave is more than 104,000 m2, and the total length of the tunnel
s is more than 20 kilometers. The whole complex has a total of 18 artificial caves linked to each other, and has more than 130 road
s and tunnels. Automobile
s like car
s are able to pass the roads and tunnels inside. The largest artificial cave has a height of 79.6 meters, and is roughly equal to that of a 20-floor building.
The project was under construction for 17 years, and the construction was nearly completed in 1984. Largely due to change in the Cold War
international situation, the project was cancelled in February 1984. It was further declassified in April 2002. In April 2010, after 40 years of closure, the base was opened to tourists.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
underground nuclear base, and the largest in the world. The nuclear base is located in what is now suburban Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, a municipality
Direct-controlled municipality
A direct-controlled municipality is the highest level classification for cities used by unitary state, with status equal to that of the provinces in the respective countries...
in Southwest China
Southwest China
Southwest China is a region of the People's Republic of China defined by governmental bureaus that includes the municipality of Chongqing, the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, and the Tibet Autonomous Region.-Provinces:-Municipalities:...
. It is a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
megaproject
Megaproject
A megaproject is an extremely large-scale investment project. Megaprojects are typically defined as costing more than US$1 billion and attracting a lot of public attention because of substantial impacts on communities, environment, and budgets. Megaprojects can also be defined as "initiatives that...
.
Introduction
The base has the “World's Largest Artificial CaveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
”. The project was started in 1966 when Sino-Soviet relations
Sino-Soviet relations
Sino-Soviet relations refers to the diplomatic relationship between China and the various forms of Soviet Power which emerged from the Russian Revolution of 1917 to 1991, when the Soviet Union ceased to exist.-Russian Civil War and Mongolia:...
dramatically declined (see also the Sino-Soviet split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
). To enhance China's national defence
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
and prevent possible Soviet invasion and nuclear attack, the project was approved (directly by then-Premier Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
) and undertaken in secret. More than 60,000 engineering soldiers
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
of the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
participated in the construction of the base. The underground base was designed to be able to tolerate thousands of tons of TNT explosives and 8-magnitude
Seismic scale
A seismic scale is used to calculate and compare the severity of earthquakes....
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s.
The surface area of the cave is more than 104,000 m2, and the total length of the tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s is more than 20 kilometers. The whole complex has a total of 18 artificial caves linked to each other, and has more than 130 road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s and tunnels. Automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s like car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s are able to pass the roads and tunnels inside. The largest artificial cave has a height of 79.6 meters, and is roughly equal to that of a 20-floor building.
The project was under construction for 17 years, and the construction was nearly completed in 1984. Largely due to change in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
international situation, the project was cancelled in February 1984. It was further declassified in April 2002. In April 2010, after 40 years of closure, the base was opened to tourists.