China's electricity consumption, a key barometer of economic activity, climbed 4.4 percent year on year to 809.6 billion kilowatt-hours in May, with high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries leading the growth, official data showed on Friday.
According to the National Energy Administration, power consumed by the primary industry expanded by 8.4 percent to 11.9 billion kilowatt-hours, while the secondary sector used 541.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.1 percent.
Among the secondary industry, the total electricity consumption of high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries increased by 3.3 percent year on year, with the automotive manufacturing, general equipment manufacturing and special equipment manufacturing sectors leading the growth.
The electricity consumption of the tertiary industry grew rapidly, reaching 155 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent. Emerging sectors such as battery-swapping and charging services of new energy vehicles maintained rapid growth in power demand.
"Driven by the rapid development of mobile internet, big data and cloud computing, the national electricity consumption of the internet and related services increased by 29.8 percent year on year, accelerating by 2.0 percentage points from the previous month," said Hou Wenjie, director of the Statistics and Data Center of the China Electricity Council.
China's residential power use also registered a rapid growth in May, with those in Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Chongqing and Jiangsu achieving double-digit growth.
"Amid regional heatwaves exceeding 35 degree Celsius, China's residential electricity consumption reached 101.3 billion kilowatt-hours in May, marking a 9.6 percent increase year on year," said Hou.
China's power use up 4.4 pct in May
The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the Ninth Special Olympic Games will conclude on Monday, with a full-dress rehearsal for the closing ceremony held Saturday night at Shenzhen Sports Center.
Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the rehearsal seamlessly integrated artistic performances with core ceremonial elements, including the entrance of sports delegations, flag reception, flag raising, and the singing of national anthem.
The ceremony aims to highlight themes of inclusion and unity, underlining the spirit of perseverance, solidarity, and determination. Messages of harmony between disabled and non-disabled individuals, shared values across the Greater Bay Area, and collective progress were central to the evening's presentation.
A total of 600 performers are participating in the closing ceremony, including about 130 persons with disabilities. Organizers worked to ensure a supportive environment by pairing each visually impaired performer with a non-disabled guide to assist during rehearsals and performances.
Behind the scenes, thoughtful design turns inclusiveness into action. Though visitors will see a simple, elegant stage, hidden modifications make it fully accessible. Traditional stairs have been replaced with ramps on both sides of the stage to accommodate wheelchair users and all performers, and anti-slip carpets have been laid throughout to ensure safety, especially for performers with mobility challenges.
Technical teams are also fine-tuning every detail, including stage visuals and lighting effects.
A total of 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations registered for this year's Games, held for the first time jointly across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area. The competition includes 1,876 events in 46 sports, with six winter sports already concluded. Highlights also include 131 events in 11 mass-participation sports and 599 events in nine Special Olympics sports.
Under the slogan "Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area," the Games are also being used to promote innovation in assistive technologies. A range of advanced products will be put into use during competition, helping move technologies from laboratories into real-world testing and market application.
Full-dress rehearsal for National Para Games' closing ceremony held in Shenzhen
