Nestled amidst the lush mountains of Anji in East China’s Zhejiang Province lies an unexpected gem: a vast coffee haven built within a disused quarry pit. The heart of this café is a turquoise lake, its vibrant hue attributed to mineral deposits. Around it, visitors sip coffee, engage in lively conversations, and capture the picturesque scenery on their cameras.
Deep Blue Café, as it is named, spans over 61.9 acres, making it one of the world’s largest cafés. Its idyllic location amid nature juxtaposed with its industrial past as a noisy quarry has made it a trending travel destination in China. Social media platforms are abuzz with praises for this unique fusion of coffee culture, the legacy of the quarry, and the surrounding panoramic vistas.
But the café’s present popularity paints a stark contrast to its history. Just a couple of years prior, the pit was an abandoned, hazardous space that posed numerous safety threats, including wide cracks and potential collapses. Earlier, it was a bustling quarry, contributing significantly to environmental degradation.
The tale of Deep Blue Café is a testament to rural revitalization through green development. In 2021, when local officials noticed backpackers’ interest in the abandoned site, they initiated an inspection, leading to an idea: why not transform this into a commercial attraction? The café concept presented by Cheng Shuoqin and his team was approved, paving the way for its inception.
April 2022 saw the commencement of the café’s construction. Adjacent to the pit, Cheng’s team uncovered a 1970s cement factory plant, which, after excavation and minimalistic renovation, became the main coffee-serving area within a mere 18 days. This restored structure, coupled with the sprawling quarry pit as its backdrop, is what the visitors experience today. A nominal entrance fee provides visitors with access to the site and a coffee of their choice.
Cheng’s approach to the café is admirable. Despite the vast potential for profit, he has chosen to limit commercial activities to selling coffee. In his words, the aim is to allow visitors to “simply enjoy the adequately attractive natural beauty.”
The café’s concept resonated profoundly with visitors. Since its launch in May 2022, it has welcomed over 400,000 people. The café’s success is evident in its staggering sales during peak times, once even selling over 5,000 cups in a single day.
Anji’s transformation is in line with the vision put forward by Xi Jinping in 2005, emphasizing the value of green landscapes as treasures. The county, once grappling with pollution, has now embraced ecotourism, bolstered by a thriving café culture, agritainment, and country inns. With over 300 cafés, Anji is setting benchmarks for harmonious coexistence between business and nature.
Deep Blue Café stands as a shining example of this philosophy. As Cheng aptly summarizes, such ventures underscore the immense “value to natural beauty.”
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