China's water conservancy investment hit record high in 2024: official

China

China's water conservancy investment hit record high in 2024: official

2024-12-31 16:59 Last Updated At：01-01 00:47

China's water conservancy investment has hit an all-time high in 2024, with about 1.35 trillion yuan (about 184.98 billion U.S. dollars) invested in the sector, said a senior official with the Ministry of Water Resources at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

Chen Min, Vice Minister of Water Resources, noted that the Ministry of Water Resources has made new progress in promoting high-quality development of water conservancy by implementing a total of 47,000 water conservancy projects in 2024 alone.

"China's investment in water conservancy construction reached a record high. In 2024, 47,000 water conservancy projects have been launched, with an investment amount of 1.35 trillion yuan completed and 3.147 million jobs created, playing an important role in stabilizing the country's economic growth and promoting employment," he said.

The construction of major national strategic water projects has been accelerated in 2024, Chen noted.

The Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project began providing water this year, while the construction of various projects, such as the Yangtze River to Han River diversion project along the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Beibu Gulf Rim Water Resources Allocation Project, has been stepped up, in an effort to shore up the high-quality economic and social development, according to Chen. "The amount of groundwater overexploitation in China has decreased by 31.9 percent compared with a decade ago, and the area of serious overexploitation has decreased by 51 percent. The newly treated area for soil and water erosion has reached 64,000 square kilometers," said Chen.

Chen further noted that the ministry has also made efforts to consolidate the foundation of water conservancy projects in rural areas in a bid to ensure rural water supply and national food security.

"In 2024, more than 20,000 rural water supply projects have been completed across the country, improving the water supply to more than 100 million residents in rural areas. And 94 percent of the rural population now has access to tap water," said Chen.

The projects launched by China have effectively eased the severe drought in southwest, north and northwest China, as well as the Huanghuai area, laying a solid foundation for the country's annual grain output to reach a new level of 700 billion kilograms for the first time, according to Chen.

Lantern show illuminates Beijing with traditional, innovative elements

2025-01-04 05:07 Last Updated At：07:17

A spectacular lantern show at Wenyu River Park has added to festive vibes in Beijing as the city now enters a joyous period of celebrations for both New Year's Day and the upcoming Spring Festival.

Spanning 40 hectares, the 2025 Beijing Megalights Wonderland features more than 1,000 illuminated installations across eight themed areas, offering visitors a feast for the senses and plenty of surprises around every corner.

From traditional Chinese motifs to playful characters, the dazzling display seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with time-honored customs.

In Chinese culture, lanterns symbolize light, happiness, and the dispelling of bad luck. At this park on the city's outskirts, over 1,000 stunning lantern artworks are on display, ranging from intricate designs to towering, eye-catching structures.

Visitors are transported into a dreamlike world of divine beasts, fairylands, and traditional Chinese architecture, with each scene drawing inspiration from famous stories and myths. "I think it's really great. The atmosphere is wonderful, very suitable for a family outing," said a female visitor.

"Visiting the lantern show at the beginning of the New Year, I wish our motherland prosperity and strength," said another visitor.

The show is particularly popular with families, especially those with young children.

"We hope our child can gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. She also really likes wearing traditional Hanfu clothing," one parent shared.

Thanks to modern technologies like holographic projection, visitors can embark on an immersive journey from ancient China to space and beyond.

The lanterns on display are handcrafted in Zigong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, renowned for its lantern-making tradition -- a recognized form of intangible cultural heritage.

"These lanterns are all welded by hand. For example, this large-scale Wukong lantern has over 10,000 welding points. We can also program the light strips to achieve the effect of changing lights, making it more futuristic," said Shu Xin, project manager of Beijing Shiguang Tourism.

As the winter festivities continue, the lantern show remains a hit across the country and is set to run until March.