China's domestically produced 300-megawatt F-class heavy-duty gas turbine successfully completed its ignition test in Shanghai on Monday, marking a significant advancement in the nation's gas turbine technology.
Known as the "crown jewel" of the equipment manufacturing industry, the heavy-duty gas turbine can operate for a long time in environments of high temperature, high stress and high corrosion, making it the core equipment for power plants.
This 300-megawatt F-class heavy-duty gas turbine consists of five major systems and over 50,000 components and is the first domestically developed heavy gas turbine in China with the highest power output and technical grade. It will serve as an important force driving the development of the high-end equipment manufacturing industry.
Developed by the China United Heavy Gas Turbine Technology, this gas turbine's technical specifications are competitive with leading international F-class heavy-duty gas turbines, showcasing China's growing capabilities in the energy sector.
Its successful ignition marks the transition into the comprehensive testing and validation phase, laying a solid foundation for future operational evaluations and performance assessments.
China's first F-class heavy-duty gas turbine completes ignition test
The 2026 Emei Mountain Trail Challenge wrapped up Sunday at Mount Emei in Leshan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The event attracted more than 8,000 trail running enthusiasts and professional athletes from 15 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India.
For the first time, the event was held over two weekends. The opening week, held from April 18 to 19, featured shorter distances of 8 km, 18 km, 28 km, and 42 km, designed for amateur and intermediate runners. The second week, held from April 25 to 26, catered to elite athletes with more challenging races of 27 km, 50 km, 75 km, and 102 km.
Runners tackled a variety of challenging terrains such as high alpine trails, dense forests, tea plantations, and flatter sections, while passing iconic landmarks.
In the most demanding 102 km challenge, Chinese athletes Yang Jianjian and Zheng Wen claimed the men's and women's titles respectively. In the 75 km event, China's Zhang Hongfu won the men's division, while American runner Ruby Lindquist secured the women's victory.
"It's very beautiful and everyone is so nice. I was so happy to see the people. They made me feel very supportive. And they were very nice and they clapped for me. And I really like that," said Lindquist.
The event, also known as North Face 100 Ultra Trail Mt. Emei Challenge, was staged on Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism.
Trail challengers conquer Mount Emei in Sichuan
