China launches 12 comprehensive pilot projects for smart dam construction

China has launched 12 comprehensive pilot projects for smart dam construction, as announced at the ongoing 28th International Commission on Large Dams Congress, which kicked off Wednesday in Chengdu City, northwest China's Sichuan Province.

The pilot projects underscore China's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies into dam engineering and water resource management.

At the Qingyuan Pumped Storage Power Station in northeast China's Liaoning Province, a three-dimensional real-life modeling system provides a clear visualization of the station's underground space - effectively equipping the project with a "perspective eye" to monitor subsurface conditions.

Meanwhile, the Dashixia Water Control Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is accelerating its construction. The project features the world's tallest concrete face rockfill dam, standing at 247 meters. It employs an innovative intelligent management system for dam filling operations, allowing real-time monitoring of rolling paths, compaction frequency, and other key data.

The Baihetan Hydropower Station - currently the world's second-largest hydropower project - has a dam that reaches 289 meters in height. During its construction, engineers embedded more than 100,000 sensors into the dam structure. These sensors function like "nerve endings," continuously detecting changes in stress and temperature to ensure structural safety and operational stability.

As of the end of 2024, China had built more than 94,000 dams, ranking first in the world in both number and installed capacity. The country's hydropower installed capacity reached 436 million kilowatts, with an annual power generation of 1.42 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 57 percent of its total renewable energy generation.

"China is leading the world in not just the installation rate of hydropower, but very importantly also with pump storage hydro," said Anton-Louis Olivier, chair of board of the International Hydropower Association.

China launches 12 comprehensive pilot projects for smart dam construction

More than 20 films will hit Chinese screens during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Saturday to Monday, spanning genres from revolutionary historical dramas, realism movies to suspense thrillers, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.

Revolutionary historical films such as Blood-Spattered Cliff, Eight Sons, Eight Soldiers, and Half Of The Quilt, will pay tribute to martyrs through the lens.

Three films -- It's OK, Now I Met Her, and Sunshine Women's Choir -- tell moving stories of love, growth, and reconciliation.

It's OK is a contemporary family comedy that follows a mother and daughter navigating their joyful yet turbulent relationship. Now I Met Her tells a rebellious teenager who gets to know his late mother through her old diary. Sunshine Women's Choir, a film from the Taiwan region of China, portrays the "perfect" maternal love of "imperfect mothers."

The suspense film Game of Identity tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who accidentally swap lives, setting off an unexpected adventure. The documentary films Seeking Nature: The Code of Life, and Missions to the Moon (Part One) explore the connection between humanity and science.

Imported films from different countries, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Project Hail Mary, and Hoppers, will deliver spectacular cinematic experiences to audiences.

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Over 20 films expected to hit Chinese screens during Qingming Festival Holiday