Chinese cities stage culturally enriching, diverse shows to usher in new year

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Culturally enriching, diverse shows have been staged in cities across China over the past few days to ring in the new year of 2025, attracting crowds of people to enjoy the festive vibe and embrace a new beginning.   In Suining City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, vibrant colored lanterns have adorned a local village, while 1,000 drones would illuminate the night sky when the dark falls, with dazzling firework displays and light shows, drawing many visitors.

"I've never seen a firework display so large, and the 'Happy New Year' display created by drones was very very beautiful," said a tourist from Türkiye.

In an ancient town in Wanquan District, Zhangjiakou City of north China's Hebei Province, a series of performance showcase intangible cultural heritage folk art, thrilling molten "iron flower" displays, and concerts, filling visitors with cheer.  

In Shunshan Town, a popular resort in Changzhou City of east China's Jiangsu Province, a spectacular visual feast featuring intangible cultural heritage performances and firework displays have ignited the enthusiasm of the visitors.

"All programs are designed to offer tourists a high level of interactivity. We hope to provide people with rich, multi-layered, and three-dimensional cultural products," said Fang Shihong, a staff member from the resort.

In the Qinhu National Wetland Park, Taizhou City of Jiangsu, molten "iron flower" displays and firework shows would unfold at night in succession as people joyfully welcome the arrival of 2025.

"I hope my family members are in good health," said a tourist.

"I wish for children to grow up happily, for adults to experience peace and joy, and for all to enjoy good fortune," said another tourist.

Chinese cities stage culturally enriching, diverse shows to usher in new year

China's largest integrated photovoltaic(PV)-hydrogen-storage project located in Jiangsu Province was connected to the grid and begun power generation from Tuesday, said state-owned energy firm CHN Energy Friday.

Located on the coastal tidal flats of the Yudong Reclamation Area in Rudong County, it is China's first integrated offshore facility combining PV power generation, hydrogen production and refueling, and energy storage, all within a framework of comprehensive energy utilization and coastal ecological restoration.

The 400-megawatt project, spanning 4,300 mu (around 286.67 hectares), incorporates a newly constructed 220 kV onshore booster station, a 60 MW/120 MWh energy storage facility, and a hydrogen production and refueling station with a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters per hour and 500 kilograms per day, respectively.

Part of China's third batch of Desert, Gobi and Rocky Areas Mega Wind and Solar Base Projects, the Rudong facility is expected to generate around 468 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The project is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits, including an annual reduction of approximately 309,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 562.6 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions, and 1,125.3 tons of nitrogen dioxide emissions.

China's largest integrated PV-hydrogen-storage project begins power generation