This Chinese man ‘Alchemist’ extracted 191 grams of gold from SIM cards turning junk into treasure worth millions

On January 20 2026, a southern Chinese man's video surfaced online, who reportedly managed to extract 191 grams of gold from discarded SIMs. This triggered a further surge in demand for used SIM cards. The Chinese man commonly referred to as “Qiao” from Huizhou, Guangdong province, specialising in refining previous scrap metal, was reportedly behind the process.The extracted gold after filtering and heating reveals the worth, which is around 200,000 Yuan or approximately 27 lakhs. According to the South China Morning Post, this extraction may seem like a small DIY project, but it is far more complex than it seems in reality. The video went viral when Qiao poured stacks of used SIM cards into barrels of heat and corrosion. The scrap SIM card prices have reportedly shot up, and vendors are selling faster than they can stock. Some buyers say they want to mimic Qiao’s method. There’s fascination with the idea that you could pull gold from what looks like junk. But as Qiao warns, amateurs might be hurt, but one misstep could lead to chemical burns or worse.The modern SIM card typically contains less than 0.001 gram of gold, which means you would need approximately 400,000 cards to replicate Qiao’s recent results. What seems simple involves a complex process for extraction, which is termed Aqua Regia, that is, highly corrosive water. Experts warn: one mistake could lead to the release of lethal explosive gases.Qiao comes from Huizhou in Guangdong province. He’s a scrap metal refiner by trade. People online have dubbed him the “alchemist.” He reportedly told local media that the gold didn’t just come from SIM cards but with other discarded electronic chips helped make the total 191 grams. As reported, experts say it’s illegal in some regions to handle such chemicals without proper permits and is also dangerous. Qiao’s gold extraction might look like fun but it’s not a DIY hobby.