The combined power generation from the world's largest clean energy corridor, consisting of six mega hydropower stations on China's Yangtze River, rose 9.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, the stations' operator said Thursday.
The six mega hydropower stations generated 57.68 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first three months of the year, according to data from China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd.
This is equivalent to the power generated by burning around 17 million tonnes of standard coal, which would have emitted nearly 42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The six mega hydropower stations on the Yangtze work together to transmit electricity from China's resource-rich west to energy-consuming regions in the east. Their total installed capacity is around 71.7 million kilowatts, according to China Yangtze Power.
The Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, and Xiangjiaba stations are located on the Jinsha River on the upper section of the Yangtze River, while the three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba are on the middle section of the Yangtze.
The six stations account for about one-fifth of China's total installed hydropower capacity, forming a 1,800-km-long clean energy corridor that also plays a major role in flood control, shipping, water resources utilization, and ecological security in the Yangtze River Basin.
World's largest clean energy corridor sees electricity generation grow by 9.4 pct in Q1
To celebrate the May Day holiday, Qinghai Province in northwest China and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north staged grand drone performances, captivating locals and tourists with dazzling lightshows that fused regional characteristics with cutting-edge technology.
This year's May Day holiday in China runs from Thursday to Monday, offering enthusiastic holidaymakers a five-day break to travel around or enjoy unique local events.
The drone performance on Thursday night in Qinghai's Qilian County captivated both locals and tourists. The show began with 500 drones forming a giant hand pressing a button atop a mountain. Spectators were left in awe as the drones created scenes from ancient Chinese poems and depicted snow leopards, yaks, Tibetan sheep, and iconic local landmarks such as roads, mountains, and glaciers
"The drones showed us the images of a special variety of Tibetan sheep from Qilian, yaks, and snow leopard, which were all cute and impressive. Also, the atmosphere at the performance site was joyful and festive," said Zhang Weining, a tourist.
In Inner Mongolia's Ordos City, another grand performance on the same day featured around 1,000 drones accompanied by a vibrant firework display. The show highlighted images of workers and iconic landmarks, while a soaring eagle symbolized the city’s aspirations for rapid development, spreading an auspicious message of progress and prosperity.
Viewers, especially children, were mesmerized by the image of the mythological figure "Ne Zha," symbolizing an impressive blend of traditional culture and modern technology. As the show reached its grand finale, the drone soared among bursting fireworks, creating a breathtaking spectacle that heightened the excitement to its peak.
Qinghai, Inner Mongolia fuse tradition with tech in dazzling drone shows
Qinghai, Inner Mongolia fuse tradition with tech in dazzling drone shows
