Looking at China from a satellite perspective｜A -view- of changes in major power projects

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, a series of transformative projects have emerged under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, marking a significant era of progress. In this installment of “A Satellite View of China,” we take an aerial look at some of these remarkable achievements that define our time.

In June 2024, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, a crucial transportation hub within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, officially opened after seven years of construction. This project is noteworthy as it is the world’s first integrated maritime engineering cluster, combining bridges, islands, tunnels, and underwater connections.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
General Secretary Xi Jinping celebrated the completion of the channel in June 2024, describing it as a monumental transportation project in the Greater Bay Area—one that follows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. He highlighted the project’s resolution and innovation in overcoming significant technical challenges and setting multiple world records. He reinforced that the essence of Chinese-style modernization is rooted in hard work and pragmatic efforts.

**Exciting Developments**
The opening of the channel dramatically reduced travel time from Shenzhen to Zhongshan from approximately two hours to just half an hour. Over its first month of operation, it facilitated the passage of over three million vehicles, constituting about a quarter of the traffic across the Pearl River Estuary.

In June 2021, after more than six years of construction, Tibet’s first electrified railway, the Lalin Railway, opened to the public. As a component of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, it crosses the Yarlung Zangbo River 16 times, tackling challenges unique to high-altitude railway systems while boasting a bridge-to-tunnel ratio of 75%.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
During a visit to Linzhi Railway Station in July 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping engaged with the project’s planning and operations. He traveled on a special train along the Lalin Railway, investigating various construction issues. He underscored the importance of meticulous planning and scientific strategies in developing the railway network in the western border areas to enhance local living standards and facilitate high-quality growth.

**Exciting Developments**
The Lalin Railway has significantly improved travel efficiency, cutting the journey from Lhasa to Linzhi from five hours to just over three, and from Shannan to Linzhi from six hours to around two. In three years of operation, it has transported over 3.03 million passengers and 783,000 tons of goods, greatly stimulating the local economy.

The Baihetan Hydropower Station, positioned on the Jinsha River at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan, ranks as the second largest hydropower station globally, after the Three Gorges Dam. It is an essential element of the “West-to-East Power Transmission” initiative, with major construction commencing in July 2017 and unit operations beginning in June 2021.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
In June 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping congratulated the successful startup of Baihetan’s first units. He praised the workers’ spirit of excellence and dedication that significantly contributed to this national project, demonstrating that socialism thrives on hard work and that the new era is built through collective effort.

**Exciting Developments**
The Baihetan Hydropower Station has the capacity to deliver over 60 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year, fulfilling the daily electricity needs of approximately 148 million people. By March of this year, its total power output had surpassed 120 billion kilowatt-hours.

The Xiong’an Station project began construction in December 2018 as the flagship infrastructure initiative in the newly developed Xiong’an New Area, with operations commencing alongside the opening of the Beijing-Xiong Intercity Railway in December 2020.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
In January 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping praised Xiong’an Station’s construction workers as pioneers in the development of this new area during his visit to the planning exhibition center. He emphasized the station’s significance as a connecting hub. In May 2023, he traveled to Xiong’an by high-speed train to inspect the station’s operation and construction.

**Exciting Developments**
As of September 25 of this year, Xiong’an Station has facilitated over 1.96 million passenger journeys, with travel time to Beijing West Station reduced to just 50 minutes and a 19-minute ride to Daxing Airport. This station is set to become a critical hub within China’s high-speed rail network.

The Shanghai Yangshan Port Phase IV, which commenced construction in December 2014 and began trial operations in December 2017, stands as the world’s largest single automated container terminal.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
In November 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping connected via video during a visit to the Urban Operations Comprehensive Management Center in Pudong, receiving updates on the Yangshan Port Phase IV’s construction. He noted its role in enhancing Shanghai’s status as an international shipping center and pilot free trade zone, urging ongoing excellence in operations.

**Exciting Developments**
Since its opening, Yangshan Port Phase IV has consistently broken production records, achieving a throughput of over 6.8 million standard containers in 2023. Its automated systems have cut labor costs by 70% while boosting productivity by 30% compared to traditional terminals.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which spans approximately 55 kilometers across the Lingdingyang, connects Hong Kong with Zhuhai in Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region. Construction started in December 2009, culminating in the bridge’s inauguration in October 2018.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
At the bridge’s opening ceremony in October 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted the necessity of quality construction for such a pivotal project and the importance of its effective operation for the Greater Bay Area’s growth.

**Exciting Developments**
With the resumption of normal customs operations in 2023 and new policies allowing vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao to travel north, traffic surged at the Zhuhai Road Port of the bridge. By April 27 of this year, over 10 million vehicles had crossed the border.

The Nanfan Research and Breeding Base, located in Hainan’s Sanya, Lingshui, and Ledong, is China’s largest agricultural science experiment zone, responsible for over 70% of new crop varieties. This base was recognized as a national strategic project in 2015.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
During a visit in April 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the Nanfan Research and Breeding Base’s potential as a comprehensive agricultural research and service center, likening it to a “Silicon Valley” for crop breeding.

**Exciting Developments**
In recent years, the “Nanfan Silicon Valley” has gained traction, fostering collaborative development in the seed industry chain. Major research institutions have set up operations in Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, creating significant research platforms and attracting leading national seed enterprises, thus revitalizing agricultural innovation.

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), known as “China Sky Eye,” is located in Guizhou Province. It holds the title of the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, constructed independently by China, with completion in September 2016 following its inception in March 2011.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
Upon the completion of “China Sky Eye,” General Secretary Xi Jinping acknowledged its achievements in a congratulatory letter. In February 2021, during a Guizhou visit, he met with project leaders, noting its significant contributions to frontier science and commending the relentless commitment of the research team.

**Exciting Developments**
Since becoming operational in 2020, “China Sky Eye” has discovered over 900 new pulsars, surpassing the total found by all other international telescopes combined during the same timeframe. It has also produced over ten research papers published in prestigious academic journals like Nature and Science.

For over 50 years, Gansu aspired to divert water from the Tao River to arid regions. Initiated in 1958, the project faced delays due to financial and technical obstacles before resuming in 2006, with the first phase completed by the end of 2014 and the second phase wrapped up in September 2021.

**General Secretary’s Insights**
During a February 2013 visit to Gansu, General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored the Tao River project’s critical importance. He revisited the project in September 2024, advocating for enhanced maintenance and management to ensure its benefits reached local communities.

**Exciting Developments**
The Tao River project has established 30 centralized water supply points, including the Ye Bao project in Tianshui’s Qin’an County. As of September 20 this year, the project has successfully diverted 1.029 billion cubic meters of water, positively impacting nearly 6 million people across 14 counties in five cities: Dingxi, Lanzhou, Baiyin, Tianshui, and Pingliang.