China's installed generation capacity of wind power has consistently held the top position globally for an impressive 15-year streak, according to the latest data released by the China Electricity Council on Sunday. This achievement highlights the country's commitment to rapid and stable growth in wind energy, with an average annual increase exceeding 100 million kilowatts.
So far, China's newly added grid-connected wind power generation capacity has exceeded 57.84 million kilowatts, and the cumulative wind power grid-connected capacity has reached 580 million kilowatts, accounting for 15.7 percent of the country's installed generation capacity, according to the latest data. The wind power generation among large industrial enterprises, or those with annual revenue from their core business of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.81 million U.S. dollars), accounts for 10.1 percent of the country's total electricity consumption. "By 2035, the share of non-fossil energy in China's total energy consumption is expected to reach over 30 percent, and the total installed generation capacity of wind power and solar power will be more than six times the levels of 2020, targeting over 3.6 billion kilowatts," said Qin Haiyan, secretary-general of Chinese Wind Energy Association. China's wind turbine manufacturers are also intensifying their global expansion efforts. They have exported wind turbine units to 57 countries across six continents, with seven manufacturers either establishing factories overseas or advancing plans to do so. "Here are the reasonable goals for China's wind power development: the new installed capacity will be at least 120 million kilowatts annually during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), to ensure that the cumulative installed generation capacity of wind power reaches 1.3 billion kilowatts by 2030 and five billion kilowatts by 2060, helping the energy sector to achieve carbon neutrality first," said Qin.
China's installed wind power generation capacity tops world for 15 consecutive years
Cities across China are experiencing a significant tourism boom as the three-day Qingming Festival holiday coincides with the first-ever student spring breaks in multiple cities, creating an extended travel period for many families.
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. The Qingming Festival holiday will last from April 4 to 6.
In addition, primary and secondary school students in several regions are going to enjoy their first-ever spring break to head beyond the classroom for travel and engaging in a wide range of activities. In some areas, the spring break takes place just before the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, while in others it extends into the five-day May Day holiday, allowing students to combine leave into six- to eight-day mini-breaks.
With spring in full bloom, many families are venturing into nature to enjoy the spring scenery and experience the spring atmosphere in mountains and fields.
At Maoshan Forest World, a scenic spot in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu, families from surrounding cities such as Nanjing, Nantong, and Zhenjiang are coming in groups. They interacted with adorable animals and experienced digging for bamboo shoots. Under the guidance of the staff, children identified and dug bamboo shoots, experiencing the joyful moments of labor.
"I want my child to get closer to nature, feel the breath of spring, and experience the joy of labor," said Deng Jie, a tourist.
During the holiday, traveling to famous destinations featured in textbooks has become a popular choice for many families.
In east China's Zhejiang Province, several scenic spots have introduced free admission for primary and secondary school students. At the Yanguan Ancient Town in Haining, many students can experience the spectacular sight of magnificent tidal waves of Qiantang River described in textbook.
"We just rode a bamboo raft and are going to watch the Qiantang River tidal bore tomorrow," said Zhao Ziyu, a tourist.
Integrating educational content with holiday vibes, study tours remain popular during the holiday.
At the Wujiangzhai Scenic Spot in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, after watching an ethnic performance, many young visitors went to a lantern shop to experience making intangible cultural heritage lanterns. From constructing bamboo frames to pasting paper and coloring, a teacher guided them step by step, and the visitors incorporated the scenic area's landscapes and their own life expectations into their creations.
In Liangdancheng (city of nuclear bombs), the site where China's first atomic and hydrogen bombs were designed, in Zitong County of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a large number of students visited the local aerospace science and technology museum. In the interactive experience area, students operated simulated spaceflight equipment, acting as little astronauts exploring a virtual universe. By wearing Mixed Reality (MR) glasses, they can observe the mysteries of planets up close.
Spring break coincides with Qingming holiday, fueling tourism boom across China
