China remains the world's top manufacturer of marine engineering equipment in terms of market share for seven consecutive years.
As the latest example of China's capability in marine engineering equipment manufacturing, two homegrown fourth-generation wind turbine installation vessels were delivered in Nantong City of eastern China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday.
They were built in a production base of Chinese heavy-duty equipment manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province.
The base is home to a national-level advanced manufacturing cluster for marine engineering equipment and high-tech vessels.
Roughly a quarter of China's marine engineering equipment are manufactured in the base, and its shipbuilding industry market size ranks the first in the country.
Data show that a total of 209 orders were placed for marine engineering equipment globally in 2024, with a value of approximately 26.8 billion U.S. dollars and a year-on-year increase of 95 percent.
Among them, China reported a new order intake of 108, with a value of about 18.6 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 69.4 percent of the global total.
Meanwhile, China has continuously achieved technological breakthroughs in innovative and green technologies for high-end ships and offshore equipment.
Chinese shipbuilders have received orders for floating liquefied natural gas production storage and unloading units, floating oil production storage and unloading units, large offshore wind power installation ships, and new offshore wind power operation and maintenance ships.
In 2024, China's newly received orders for green ships accounted for 78.5 percent of the international market share.
China for 7 years leads in global marine engineering equipment manufacturing
China for 7 years leads in global marine engineering equipment manufacturing
China for 7 years leads in global marine engineering equipment manufacturing
Bishan District in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality is setting a new benchmark in urban drainage through its innovative "sponge city" model.
Bishan District was selected in February 2017 as a pilot for climate adaptation, and has developed itself into a sponge city.
By utilizing permeable bricks, the ground is enabled to absorb water more effectively, enhancing natural infiltration. In addition, rain gardens function as natural reservoirs, while school rooftops have been transformed into verdant green spaces.
Overall, this innovative approach not only helps mitigate urban flooding, but also contributes to improving the local microclimate -- an exemplary model of ecological urban development.
"What is a 'sponge city'? It's an urban development concept that treats the city like a giant sponge -- absorbing water when it rains and releasing it when needed. The system is highly flexible," said Tang Chuandong, a planning designer of the Western Branch of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design.
Over the recent years, Bishan District has developed mini sponge systems.
"Solid buildings and hard ground aren't very adaptable when it comes to climate change. For that reason, we incorporated sunken areas into industrial park designs to create rain gardens -- mini ecological sponge systems," Tang said.
When it rains, water is collected in these gardens and is filtered through vegetation, soil and sand layers before being stored in underground tanks. Multiple small sponge systems beneath large buildings help disperse, manage and store rainwater more effectively. Additionally, Bishan District's sponge city initiative has made the ground more permeable.
"We've laid permeable bricks with a certain porosity. This allows rainwater to seep into the ground, thereby reducing surface water buildup," said Tang.
Tang also highlighted the ecological benefits of transforming school rooftops into lush green spaces.
"Typical rooftops are just bare concrete. But when building a sponge city, like here at the school, aside from the greenery around us, we also green the rooftop. The area most exposed to sunlight is our rooftop, right? We turned the roof into a green sponge system by laying down soil, scattering seeds, and growing grass. It's like giving the rooftop a 'green jacket'. Doesn't it feel cooler?" he said.
"Don't underestimate the small green roof. As the Chinese saying goes, 'No good deed is too small to be done.' One roof may have limited impact, but if many buildings, or an entire city, adopt green roofs, the effect on urban climate regulation could be extremely substantial," said Tang.
China's Chongqing innovates urban drainage with "sponge city" model
