Xinjiang moves forward as power distributor, contributes to China's energy transformation

Xinjiang has greatly expanded the construction of power grids and transmission routes in recent years, laying the foundations for plans to use the region's abundant coal, wind and solar resources to distribute power to millions of households in central and east China.

Spanning over 3,000 kilometers, a ±1100 kV ultra-high-voltage transmission line runs from the western corner of China to its eastern edge -- beginning in Xinjiang's Zhundong and ending in southern Anhui Province.

Along the line, workers operate drones in order to carry out crucial inspections, ensuring its safe and stable operation.

"Compared to the past when we had to use binoculars and walked the lines for inspection, drones are much more efficient and are not restricted by terrain. Equipped with infrared imagers and Light Detection and Ranging (lidar), they allow for faster, all-round inspections without blind spots," said Guo Jing, deputy team leader of the East Xinjiang Operations Division of Xinjiang Power Transmission and Transformation Company.

For these grid inspectors, there is little room for error. The line is used to carry out a massive transfer of power generated in Xinjiang to the manufacturing and business centers in the east China.

Thanks to the two-to-three-hour time difference, much of the region's green energy resources can be used to meet peak demand in the east.

At 8:00 in Beijing, when the morning rush pushes power demand to its peak, Xinjiang's wind farms are just beginning to generate, sending clean electricity across thousands of kilometers to the capital. By 20:00, when urban demand surges again at night, Xinjiang's solar farms are still at full output, delivering power across mountains and rivers to cities in central and east China.

Behind this precise power distribution lies millisecond-level intelligent scheduling.

"In the power dispatch control center, where all of Xinjiang's power data is collected, we monitor system load, renewable generation and demand across all regions in real time. With the automatic generation control system, we can allocate surplus renewable energy from southern Xinjiang to the north, and then transmit it nationwide," explained Zhu Qing, director of the power dispatch control department under the State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Company's power dispatch control center.

As a key sending hub in China's west-to-east power transmission program, Xinjiang has five major outbound transmission routes passing through northwest China's Gansu, east China's Anhui and southwest China's Chongqing: from Hami to Dunhuang, Yandun to Shazhou, Hami South to Zhengzhou, Zhundong to Anhui, and Hami to Chongqing

To fully harness its coal, wind and solar resources, by the end of 2024, Xinjiang had built 32 kV ultra-high-voltage substations and 98 transmission lines with a total length of 12,300. Xinjiang has built the largest number of 750 kV substations of any provincial-level region in the country, as well as the longest 750 kV power transmission lines, achieving the widest coverage in the country.

Xinjiang moves forward as power distributor, contributes to China's energy transformation

Xinjiang moves forward as power distributor, contributes to China's energy transformation

Xinjiang moves forward as power distributor, contributes to China's energy transformation

Duty-free sales in China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) reached 161 million yuan (about 22.8 million U.S. dollars) on Thursday, the first day of island-wide special customs operations, according to official statistics released Friday by Haikou Customs.

Nearly 24,800 shoppers purchased about 118,000 items on the day, up 53 percent and 25 percent year on year, respectively, the data showed.

At the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, significant discounts drew large numbers of customers.

"We were curious about the changes after the island-wide special customs operations were implemented, so we came to have a look," said a customer.

"Foot traffic is up at least three to four times compared with usual levels, and new products are selling very well," said Xu Xueli, a salesperson at the Haikou CDF Mall.

The Haikou Global Premium Duty Free Plaza was also bustling with customers engaging in interactive games and promotional activities.

"The performances are fantastic, and the discounts are very generous. I came after the island-wide special customs operations began to buy some duty-free items. I've had my eyes on, and I'm really happy," said another customer.

"By integrating cultural experiences and duty-free shopping, we aim to better incorporate Dongpo culture into the consumer experience," said Chen Haidan, sales manager in the operations management department of the Haikou Global Duty-Free Plaza.

Su Dongpo was a prominent poet and cultural figure of China's Song Dynasty (960–1279), celebrated for his literary legacy and culinary skills.

The island-wide special customs operations took effect Thursday in the Hainan Free Trade Port, the world's largest free trade port by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.

Hainan records 161 mln yuan in duty-free sales on first day of special customs operations