The Sawaya’erdun Gold Mine is a rare ultra-large, undeveloped gold deposit in China, with more than 100 tonnes of gold contained in low-grade ores. It is situated in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, an area with favorable gold metallogenic conditions. To date, twenty-one mineralized belts have been discovered in the mine, and there is potential for further discoveries at the depth of the deposit and its periphery.

The project will first commence open-pit mining and then underground mining, with a design capacity of 2.4 tonnes per annum (including the processing of low-grade ores). The project's average annual gold output is estimated at around 3.3 tonnes after open-pit mining operations reach design capacity. Another 2.4 tonnes of gold production will be added after underground mining operations reach design capacity. Additionally, a hydrometallurgical plant will be built as a part of the project, with a design capacity to produce 5 tonnes of standard gold ingots per annum.

In July 2022, Zijin Mining acquired a 70% interest in the Sawaya’erdun Gold Mine in Wuqia County, Kezilesu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.