China’s year-end stage performances thrill audiences

Audience in China are embracing a cultural wave as a rich array of traditional operas, folk music, and dance light up theaters across the country. In Beijing, the third Sichuan Opera Showcase "Beijing Performance Week" is underway at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater from December 23 to 28. Featuring four full-length productions and a highlights performance, the showcase presents signature stunts such as face-changing, fire-spitting, and flowing "water" sleeves, mesmerizing spectators with the unique charm of Sichuan Opera.

The repertoire mixes classic revivals with innovative new works, offering the Beijing audience an immersive experience steeped in the expressive tones and stylings of Sichuan performing arts.

At the National Center for the Performing Arts, the Beijing Chinese Orchestra staged its "Seasons of China" concert on December 21. The performance created a musical narrative with ethnic instruments, delighting the audience with the rich beauty of traditional Chinese music across styles and regions.

Meanwhile, the 15th National Dance Showcase, held in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, from December 10 to 26, brought together performances from across China. Ten full-length dance dramas and dance poems, along with 51 individual dance pieces, were presented by 31 organizations nationwide, drawing large audiences.

China’s year-end stage performances thrill audiences

A carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and liquefaction facility now runs smoothly in south China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), signaling a major technological advance in the region's push toward green and low-carbon development.

The facility, located in Hainan's Chengmai County, was developed by Southern Petroleum Exploration and Development Corporation -- a Hainan-based subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) -- which focuses on oil and gas exploration and new energy development.

It captures, purifies and liquefies CO2 extracted from associated oilfield gas, with daily output of liquid CO2 now surpassing 100 metric tonnes.

"To date, our pilot project has cumulatively stored 360,000 tonnes of CO2 while boosting oil and gas output by 150,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to offsetting the annual carbon emissions of about 150,000 cars," said Wang Haisheng, executive director of Southern Petroleum Exploration and Development Corporation.

Building on its successful industrialization of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), the corporation is now pioneering advanced carbon storage technologies.

By refining capture technology and implementing a multi-dimensional monitoring network, the project has achieved long-term and stable CO2 storage, solidifying the foundation for a safe and low-carbon energy system in Hainan.

CO2 capture, storage facility makes tech advance