Xiamen Port in east China's Fujian Province has made a fully green and intelligent transformation in recent years, relieving itself of the high energy consumption and emissions typically associated with the port industry.
At the Hairun container terminal of Xiamen Port, which started its upgrading and reconstruction in 2020, all the machinery has accomplished full electrification, resulting in low noise and no black smoke.
Huang Luxu, general manager of the terminal, said that the Hairun container terminal was selected a pilot area to determine the feasibility of a full-port green transformation.
"When we were building an intelligent port in the beginning, especially using the electric stackers, we kept reliability in mind. We began renting the electric stackers rather than buying them. After a half-year trial, we thought it was feasible and we started to promote the mode in all the wharfs of Xiamen Port," said Huang.
The port's facilities have maintained stability and operational costs have been greatly reduced since the transformation.
"The service life for gantry crane engines is 15 years. After using lithium batteries, their power cost is less than half of the cost when using fuel. We estimated that we will reach the break-even point on the engines in six years," said Huang.
Crane operators at the port also benefit from the intelligent innovation as their workplace has shifted from a cabin at an altitude of several meters high to a comfortable control room.
"In the past, we worked in the cabin of the gantry crane, no matter if it was a windy day or rainy day. We work eight hours and I would spend all eight hours up there. Now, the working environment is quiet and comfortable. All I need to do is to control the crane, which is several kilometers away from here, by using a hand shank or pressing the buttons," said Wang Wengeng, a gantry crane operator.
"When I told my friends that I operate the gantry crane remotely in an office, their first reaction was to tell me how cool I am" said Huang Jingrou, another gantry crane operator.
At present, Xiamen Port has completed its full electrification transformation. The port can now reduce diesel consumption by about 2,700 tons per year, save about 2,150 tons of standard coal, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 5,400 tons.
East China port saves costs, emissions with full electrification
China’s transport authorities mobilized rail, road, air and waterway resources on Tuesday, the final day of the five‑day May Day holiday, to manage the peak return flow as passenger volumes surged nationwide.
The national railway system expects 23 million passenger trips on the day, with operators adding 2,225 extra trains and deploying capacity on popular routes and peak hours to handle the return flow from smaller cities to major hubs.
In Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, 134 trains have been temporarily added for high-demand directions including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"Railway return travel peaks today. In light of short stops and high passenger volumes, we have strengthened coordination with intermediate stations and offered guidance to passengers for smooth boarding and alighting to prevent crowding and stampedes," said Ji Yudi, a conductor of China Railway Zhengzhou Group.
Regional operators in Beijing, Chengdu and other cities have also proactively coordinated with local transit authorities to extend bus and subway operating hours, increase nighttime service frequency, and boost taxi and ride-hailing availability to ensure seamless transfers for late-arriving passengers.
With respect to highways, the national highway network is projected to record approximately 61 million vehicle trips on Tuesday. The peak traffic window is between 16:00 and 18:00, with congestion and slow-moving traffic likely around major city entry and exit points, as well as airport expressways in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
To ease holiday congestion, traffic police in south China's Guangdong Province have rolled out tidal lanes and flow control measures at 24 key highway sections in nine cities.
"Using a highway interconnect system, we have conducted remote flow diversion. During this morning's peak return period, traffic efficiency on the Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway improved significantly, showing no sign of congestion," said Dai Zhouwu, a local traffic police officer.
By water, an estimated 1.035 million passenger trips are expected to be made across the country on Tuesday, marking a 1.4-percent increase year on year.
To ensure smooth strait crossing from south China's Hainan Province, the maritime authorities in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province have urged operators to supplement fixed sailings with extra voyages and optimized crew rotations to meet surging vessel demand.
Meanwhile, China's civil aviation sector is projected to carry 2.3 million passengers on Tuesday.
The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, one of the country's busiest airports in southwest China's Sichuan Province, are offering free luggage pick-up and delivering services to passengers arriving from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
China’s transport network braces for record May Day return traffic
