Frequently, state-affiliated businesses control hundreds of mining regions around the country, dominating China’s gold prospecting industry. Four “Big Four” businesses still dominate the sector as of early 2026, controlling most of the nation’s production and exploration efforts.
Large Mining and Gold Exploration Companies
Zijin Mining Group: Currently the biggest gold producer in China and a major participant worldwide, the company has its headquarters in Fujian. Sino-Zijin Resources and the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration are two of its exploration branches that concentrate on international and greenfield mining rights.
The largest producer of gold in China by volume of output is the China National Gold Group (China Gold), a state-owned organization (SOE) that is centrally managed. It uses a number of subsidiaries to do business, including:
Domestic mining and refining are the main priorities of Zhongjin Gold Corp. (CICC Gold).
China Gold worldwide Resources: The premier worldwide platform for exploration and acquisitions.
Located in Shandong province, the Shandong Gold Group is a significant state-owned producer. It actively participates in deep-earth exploration and oversees some of China’s most important mines, including the Sanshandao Gold Mine.
The Shandong Zhaojin Group and other investors co-founded Zhaojin Mining Industry, a business that primarily concentrates on exploration and processing in the gold-rich Zhaoyuan area.
Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining (Chifeng Gold): A rapidly expanding global manufacturer involved in metallurgical processing, sales, and worldwide gold prospecting.
A prominent participant in the past with substantial exploration rights in the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Qinghai is Yintai Gold (now a part of Shandong Gold).
China’s Foreign Investment
One of the few significant foreign investors to operate effectively in China is Griffin Mining, which has been working on the Caijiaying zinc-gold mine since 1997.
