Getting Started
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China is coordinating "hard investments" and "soft construction" to advance major national strategies and security capacity projects, deploying 109 key initiatives. In April, a Central Politburo meeting proposed accelerating the construction of six networks: water networks, new power grids, computing networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipeline networks, and logistics networks. As the first year of the plan passes its midpoint, what progress has been made on these projects, and how will they reshape our lives?
Late July, reporters visited a construction site near the Three Gorges Dam, marking the starting area for the Three Gorges New Navigation Channel. Currently, this open space shows no signs of water transport, but in ten years, it will become a 6.6-kilometer waterway with a five-stage ship lock. Each lock chamber will be 280 meters long and 40 meters wide, equivalent to two standard football fields, with a minimum navigable depth of 8 meters, allowing 10,000-ton vessels to pass. Gao Peng, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Three Gorges Corporation and Executive Director of the Three Gorges New Channel Company, stated, "It will save society nearly 16 billion yuan annually in logistics costs, profoundly impacting the flow of elements in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the adjustment of major production layouts."
Initially, the Three Gorges double-line ship locks were designed for a 100-million-ton capacity, expected to be reached by 2030. However, cargo volume exceeded 100 million tons in 2011, 19 years early. By 2025, the Three Gorges Hub handled 173 million tons, straining lock maintenance and vessel efficiency. After over a decade of scientific validation, the Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel construction began this year, the first major national project of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Gao Peng added, "Once completed, the hub's cargo capacity will reach 336 million tons annually."
Over a month after the project's official June start, reporters followed the project management director to the initial excavation area, witnessing intense activity. Shangguan Fang, Deputy Director of the Three Gorges Hub New Channel Engineering Management Department, explained, "The initial excavation area is 935 meters long, with a maximum excavation height of 123 meters and a volume of over 8.5 million cubic meters, about one-twentieth of the total excavation. It serves as a testing ground for future main works."
Why test again when locks already exist? Building a new channel next to the existing hub is unprecedented. Tests cover equipment performance, blasting techniques, and earthwork management. After safety precautions, reporters recorded a blasting test: workers drilled holes, loaded electronic explosives, and detonated remotely. Despite the large volume, debris remained contained, with vehicles outside the blast zone operating normally. Excavated soil and rock will be processed innovatively for green use. Shangguan Fang noted, "All materials are classified. Topsoil is stored for re-greening, while rock debris can be used as aggregate for concrete or other purposes."
The Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel is the largest comprehensive project on the Yangtze trunk since the Three Gorges Project. Reporters observed orderly construction, aided by a smart management platform utilizing Beidou satellite navigation for real-time vehicle tracking. Ge Shoujie, Director of the Operations Management Department at the China Water Resources and Hydropower Fourth Bureau, said, "The platform enables full digital monitoring. With simultaneous excavation, vehicle numbers will multiply, demanding high scheduling efficiency."
Besides the new channel, the project includes the Gezhouba Navigation Expansion Project. Reporters learned that design considers both "large" navigation issues and "small" fish concerns. Wang Xiao, Deputy Director of the Gezhouba Expansion Engineering Management Department, stated, "This area is highly ecologically sensitive, with Chinese sturgeon spawning grounds and finless porpoise habitats. We chose an outlet minimizing ecological impact while ensuring navigation safety."
Reporters also saw relocation of 500 kV ultra-high voltage transmission lines, crucial for moving power from the Three Gorges Dam. This first large-scale, long-distance, uninterrupted power line relocation is essential for lock construction.
Major projects are the "anchor" for China's economy during the 15th Five-Year Plan, strengthening national security and development resilience while embodying "investment in people." The April Central Politburo meeting emphasized building the six networks. The new power grid, a core platform for the new power system, will integrate main grids, distribution grids, and smart microgrids. Li Hui, Director of the State Grid Economic and Technological Research Institute, explained, "The goal is reliable power supply, transitioning from 'having electricity' to 'using green electricity.' It must be resilient and incorporate digital and AI technologies."
Reporters began their investigation in Zhejiang, focusing on the Gansu-Zhejiang ±800 kV ultra-high voltage DC transmission project. Pei Chuanxun, Director of the Development Planning Department at State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Company, said, "The line will transmit 360 billion kWh annually to Zhejiang, over half from wind and solar energy."
During the 15th Five-Year Plan, ultra-high voltage lines will form the backbone, while distributed renewable energy sources increasingly connect to distribution and microgrids. In late July, reporters visited a Ningbo car park under construction, where workers installed photovoltaic panels. As distributed solar grows, urban distribution grids become bidirectional, creating new pressures. A planning simulation platform helps optimize solar integration. Feng Yibin, Director of the Technology Innovation Office at the State Grid Ningbo Economic Research Institute, noted, "The platform compares options to ensure safe access and efficient grid use."
By early August, Ningbo's distributed solar capacity approached 10 million kW, equivalent to two large thermal plants. Reporters saw at the Ningbo Power Dispatch Center that solar had become a key power source during sunny days. However, with frequent summer thunderstorms, what happens when clouds pass? On July 19, after 11 AM, thunderstorms hit Ningbo, sharply reducing solar output. Dispatch centers quickly coordinated provincial and city resources to compensate.
Beyond main grids, reporters found microgrids forming in communities and factories. These virtual power plants adjust user consumption for smarter energy use. The ultimate goal is more stable power, even during disruptions. Reporters visited the "brain" of the grid's feeder automation system. Zhang Jiming, a grid automation expert, reviewed fault recovery after two typhoons. Most affected users within two minutes, but he was unsatisfied. Zhang Jiming stated, "High-tech firms are sensitive to outages. Power loss can ruin products. We'll use AI to detect early symptoms, aiming for a fault-free grid."
During the investigation, reporters observed that every detail matters in major projects: breaking down large initiatives into small units, recording blasting data, considering fish impacts, and integrating microgrids. Attention to each small issue ensures steady progress, building a solid foundation for Chinese-style modernization.
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