The main structure of China's first wave-resistant floating photovoltaic platform, "Yellow Sea No. 1", has been completed and laded for shipment for sea trial, according to China Huaneng Group.
The platform weighing more than 360 tons was completely moved onto a transport ship on Tuesday. Then it will be shipped to a wind farm 30 kilometers offshore, where the depth of water reaches more than 30 meters.
"It is the deepest floating offshore photovoltaic platform built in China. Designed in accordance with the extreme sea conditions in a 50-year period in this sea area, the platform owns the largest wave resistance capability in China, and can withstand waves up to 10 meters high," said Nan Mingjun, project manager of "Yellow Sea No. 1" floating offshore photovoltaic platform.
With a side length of over 25 meters, the total area of the platform is approximately 1,624 square meters.
In addition, the platform is nine meters high in total, with up to 7.5 meters designed to work above sea level, ensuring that waves cannot flood the solar panels even in some extreme sea conditions.
With 64 plastic blocks providing buoyancy, the platform has innovatively adopted the hexagonal design and truss structure, which can effectively reduce the weight by about 25 percent compared to traditional ones.
"This is an experimental platform using a total of 434 photovoltaic panels. And there are three different technical routes and four different capacities, in order to find a better solution for the large-scale development of far-reaching offshore photovoltaics in the future," said Liu Xin, chief engineer of the platform.
The platform will carry out one-year field monitoring and experiments at sea to provide data support for the efficient and safe application of floating photovoltaic technology in the marine environment.
It will also explore the integrated development with marine ranching, in a bid to shore up the three-dimensional, intensive development of the ocean and ecological protection.
China to test wave-resistant floating photovoltaic platform
A time-honored alleyway in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown is brimming with renewed energy around this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, thanks to an innovative makeover that is rekindling the passion for traditional Chinese Opera.
Once a faded part of the city, the Kwai Chai Hong, literally meaning "Little Demon Alley," has emerged as a popular sightseeing spot among locals, especially younger generations, blending colorful murals, interactive art installations, and live performances that transform this historic neighborhood into a dynamic modern cultural space.
With the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important traditional holidays for Chinese descendants, the latest installation in the alley is highlighting Chinese Opera, a once-thriving art form that's in decline in recent years.
"The Chinese Opera in the 1980s in Malaysia was recorded to have over 100 Chinese Opera troupes. Unfortunately, in year 2022, the record shows that there's less than 10 left. It's a very sad truth for us," said Zeen Chang, co-founder of Kwai Chai Hong.
The performers putting on a show here are from one of the last remaining troupes, led by a master originally from Hong Kong.
粤语已核对 "When I innovate within Cantonese opera, I ensure that the original essence of the art form is preserved. Then I incorporate elements from foreign and other theatrical works. I take the best aspects and blend them together, adapting to the times," said Kam Sin Kiew, a grand master of Chinese Opera.
Among the dazzling installations is one inspired by the headdresses worn by the opera performers. It's interactive too, giving visitors a chance to do shadow play for their social media. Some of the murals now also feature augmented reality.
The latest installation's combination of lights and color, the ancient and the modern is drawing enthusiastic crowds to the Kwai Chai Hong alleyway and to the whole Chinatown.
"What we hope to do with Kwai Chai Hong right now that we have the ability is to at least rejuvenate the interest of Chinese Opera and plant a curiosity seed to everyone," Chang said.
The transformation of this alleyway is aimed at turning this once-faded part of Kuala Lumpur into a must-see attraction, not only during festivals, but year-round.
For Chinese people, the Mid-Autumn Festival is of special ethical significance, and family reunion on this occasion lying deep in their consciousness has been a sentiment and mindset for hundreds of years. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Tuesday.
Revived traditional opera brings new life to Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
