A recent deadly mining accident in Shanxi, China's top coal province, has cast a dark shadow over the region's efforts to transition from a high-risk mining hub to a cultural destination. The disaster highlighted systemic safety failures.

Shanxi, China’s top coal-producing province, has attempted to rebrand from a polluting, high-risk mining hub into a cultural and tourist destination. However, the country’s deadliest mining accident in nearly two decades has cast a shadow over this image. On Friday, a devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi killed at least 82 people. The disaster, which industry insiders said was a result of systemic safety failures, has drawn attention to the safety, governance and...