This photo is selected from a set named Surviving on the Black Soil, created by Zou Biyu. [Photo provided by photoint.net]

"Black soil" traditionally refers to fertile soils suitable for the growth of crops. However, in the mining areas, the surroundings have turned black. Through the rise and decline of the coal mining industry during the last decades, old coal enterprises have been shut up while some remain in operation. Photographer Zou Biyu focused his lens on those people still living in deserted coal mining areas.