China's electricity use hit a historic milestone in 2025, surpassing 10 trillion kilowatt‑hours for the first time, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said Saturday.
Total power use in China hit 10.4 trillion kilowatt-hours last year, representing a year-on-year increase of five percent, according to NEA data.
Power consumption in the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries grew by 9.9 percent, 3.7 percent, and 8.2 percent, respectively from the previous year.
Meanwhile, power consumption of urban and rural residents increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year.
The tertiary sector and residential power consumption served as the primary drivers of growth in total consumption, contributing 50 percent to the overall increase.
This volume also makes China the first country to surpass the 10-trillion-kWh mark in annual power use, said the NEA.
"China's power consumption surpassed 10 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2025, driven by the combined effects of the nation's stable and improving economy and multiple rounds of extreme heat. This figure more than doubled that of the United States and exceeded the combined power consumption of the EU, Russia, India and Japan," said Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council.
China power consumption surpasses 10 trillion kWh in 2025: NEA
The China Media Group (CMG) held the first rehearsal for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Saturday, fine-tuning the highly anticipated TV event amid the festive atmosphere of the traditional Chinese New Year.
The rehearsal seamlessly integrated innovative technologies with vibrant stage visuals, offering a first glimpse of the gala's overall impact under the theme "Galloping Steed, Onward Unstoppable.”
Inspired by traditional Chinese culture, the Year of the Horse gala incorporates zodiac themes that symbolize perseverance and progress. The production merges art and technology, using AI, AR, and XR to create immersive, blended-reality visuals. Horse-themed artistic installations shape a dynamic stage, while original songs and opera pieces convey the spirited ethos of the zodiac year.
Robots, which made their debut in last year's gala, will once again take the stage at the Spring Festival Gala, showcasing the country's technological advancements.
Known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the gala has been broadcast live annually since 1983 and is regarded as a major cultural symbol for the Chinese New Year celebrations in China. This year's gala will air on Feb 16, the eve of the Chinese New Year.
The gala has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program worldwide. Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
CMG holds first rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala
