China is rapidly advancing the construction of "six major networks" during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, integrating "hard investment" with "soft development" to drive major national strategies and key security projects. The plan encompasses 109 major initiatives, including the water network, new power grid, computing network, next-generation communication network, urban underground pipeline network, and logistics network. Proposed by the Central Political Bureau in April, these projects are now halfway through their first year of implementation, with significant progress already visible.
A construction site just two kilometers from the Three Gorges Dam marks the starting point of the Three Gorges New Shipping Channel. This 6.6-kilometer waterway, featuring five-level ship locks with chambers 280 meters long and 40 meters wide, can accommodate 10,000-ton vessels. Gao Peng, Deputy Chief Engineer of China Three Gorges Corporation, said the project could save the national economy about 16 billion yuan annually in logistics costs and profoundly impact the Yangtze River Economic Belt's resource flow and industrial layout.
The original twin-lock system, designed for 100 million tons of annual cargo capacity by 2030, unexpectedly reached that threshold in 2011, 19 years ahead of schedule. By 2025, cargo throughput hit 173 million tons, straining maintenance and operational efficiency. After over a decade of scientific deliberation, construction of the new channel began this year as the first major national project of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Once completed, the channel's capacity will reach 336 million tons per year.
At the initial excavation zone, project managers are conducting trial operations over a 935-meter stretch with a maximum excavation depth of 123 meters, handling over 8.5 million cubic meters of earth and rock, roughly one-twentieth of the total volume. This "test field" phase aims to gather data for subsequent main construction. Blasting experiments, including precise excavation and environmental management, are being meticulously controlled, with remote detonations ensuring minimal displacement of debris and continued nearby operations. All excavated materials are classified for reuse, with topsoil preserved for re-greening and stone used as aggregate for concrete.
A smart construction management platform, leveraging Beidou satellite navigation, oversees the entire process, tracking vehicle positions and operations in real-time. This digital system, which will eventually manage up to 1,000-2,000 vehicles simultaneously during peak construction, ensures efficient scheduling and monitoring. The new channel project also includes the Gezhouba shipping expansion, where ecological considerations are paramount. The Gezhouba area, a high-sensitivity ecological zone with Chinese sturgeon spawning grounds and finless porpoise habitats, requires careful design of new lock outlets to minimize environmental impact.
Concurrently, the relocation of 500-kilovolt ultra-high-voltage transmission lines, which carry power from the Three Gorges Dam to the nation, is underway for the first time on such a large scale and over long distances to facilitate lock construction. These major projects serve as economic stabilizers during the 15th Five-Year Plan, bolstering national security and development resilience while adhering to the "investment in people" philosophy.
The new power grid, a core component of the "six networks," aims to build a modern power system with a "main-distribution-micro" grid structure. Li Hui, President of the State Grid Economic and Technological Research Institute, emphasized that the grid's primary goal is to ensure reliable power supply, transitioning from "basic access" to "high-quality green electricity," while incorporating digital intelligence and AI technologies. In Zhejiang Province, one of China's most economically active regions, the Gansu-Zhejiang ±800 kV ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project is underway. Once completed, it will deliver 360 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to Zhejiang, over half of which will come from wind and solar energy.
Distributed renewable energy sources, such as rooftop solar panels, are increasingly integrated into distribution and microgrids, altering traditional power flow. In Ningbo's Qianwan New District, a newly completed parking lot features photovoltaic panel installations, transforming the city's distribution network into a bidirectional system. A planning simulation platform optimizes connections for distributed solar, balancing efficient energy absorption with grid stability. Feng Yibin, Director of the Technology Innovation Office at the Economic Research Institute of State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Company, stated that the platform helps select the most economical and reliable connection points, ensuring safe integration while maximizing resource use.
By early August, Ningbo's distributed solar capacity reached nearly 10 million kilowatts, equivalent to two large thermal power plants, becoming a primary power source during sunny days. However, frequent summer thunderstorms pose challenges. On July 19, during a sudden rainstorm, photovoltaic output dropped sharply, but the dispatch center quickly coordinated with provincial and municipal resources to compensate. Smaller microgrids are also being developed in communities and factories, coupled with virtual power plants that adjust user behavior for smarter, more efficient energy use.
To enhance grid resilience, Zhang Jiming, an automation expert at State Grid Ningbo's Yinzhou District Power Supply Company, is working on an advanced fault detection system. The current system, which can isolate faults and restore power to most users within seconds, is still being refined. "Many high-tech companies are extremely sensitive to power interruptions, which can cause significant product losses," Zhang said. "In the coming years, we will use AI to monitor early warning signs, aiming for a grid that is more reliable and virtually fault-free."
Throughout the research process, it became clear that major projects are now being built with meticulous attention to detail. Large initiatives are broken down into smaller units, with data from each blast and fish-friendly water flows carefully considered. While massive grids are being constructed, microgrids are also being deployed, and small rooftop solar panels are contributing to a larger energy mix. This focus on detail is ensuring steady progress on every major project, building a solid foundation for Chinese modernization.
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