Three abandoned quarries were transformed into cultural spaces in Jinyun county in East China’s Zhejiang province. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Quarry No. 9 has a wide bottom and narrow top. Vertical porous rock walls mean there are excellent acoustics, making it an ideal space for performances and lectures. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Actors perform Wu Opera, a traditional form of Chinese opera in the region, in Quarry No. 9. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Rainwater will collect on the lowest surface of Quarry No. 9, mirroring the surrounding environment and reflecting sunlight onto the walls. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Quarry No. 8, located next to Quarry No. 9, was formed by manual mining from the top down. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

A worker renovates Quarry No. 8. The cave has a height of nearly 40 meters and stretches about 50 meters into the valley. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Stone stairs measuring up to 12-meter high bring visitors to bookshelves on the top platforms. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

The quarry is transformed into a library as scholars in ancient times used to gather in nearby areas. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Quarry No. 10 is situated in a wooded area. The nearly square-shaped quarry has three sides. It was turned into a space for live performances. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Sunlight illuminates the quarry in the afternoon. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

A three-meter-high viewing platform was erected at the entry as local miners show traditional stone quarrying techniques to visitors. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

Under the viewing platform is a room for miners to store tools. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

The three renovated quarries have opened to the public since last year. The exploitation of stone quarries from around 1960 to 1970 left many deserted mines in Jinyun county. Other projects to reuse the mines are underway. Photo: Wang Ziling/Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture

The project helped Xu Tiantian, founder of DnA_Design and Architecture, win the Swiss Architectural Award in December last year. Photo: Courtesy of DnA_Design and Architecture