During the 2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival, I traveled with my family to the warm southern region of Yunnan. Yunnan is the province with the most ethnic groups in China, home to 25 minority communities, and is also one of the country's richest regions in hydropower resources, blessed with abundant plateau wind and solar energy. Its stunning natural landscapes, diverse cultures, and unique ethnic characteristics give Yunnan endless appeal. Over the holiday, I drove south from Kunming through Pu'er to Xishuangbanna. Along the way, I experienced the remarkable cultural diversity of southern Yunnan, marveled at the breathtaking views of famous mountains and rivers, and immersed myself in the vibrant festive atmosphere as people of various ethnicities celebrated together. As a power industry researcher, I also witnessed firsthand the tangible results of green energy development in Yunnan: orderly arrays of solar panels, towering wind turbines, and high-voltage power lines winding through the mountains. In that moment, the project and capacity data from annual reports and research papers came to life. What struck me most during this Spring Festival trip was the developmental opportunities that "wind and solar" resources bring to Yunnan. Historically, its beautiful scenery attracted countless visitors, and today, its rich wind and solar resources have become a powerful force ensuring energy supply and driving economic growth.

In Pu'er, I traveled along an energy corridor, observing the coordinated development of green energy and natural landscapes. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we set out from Kunming, the "Spring City." The Kunmo Expressway, a vital route to southern Yunnan, is flanked by dense power infrastructure. Multiple transmission lines run parallel to the highway, with silver cables strung between steel towers rising and falling across the hills. On the road to Jinggu County in Pu'er, although road conditions varied, energy infrastructure remained consistently prominent. Along the Ailao Mountain foothills, arrays of white wind turbines came into view—part of the CGN Meijiang Wind-Solar Project. Further west along National Highway 215, SPIC's "county-wide distributed photovoltaic" project covered several towns, with blue solar panels integrated among tea gardens and rubber plantations, creating a distinctive "agrivoltaic" landscape. Under the winter sun, power generation and farming coexisted without interference. While I had read about this economic model in reports and news, seeing it in person made me appreciate the synergistic approach of dual land use, vertical value addition, and the microclimate benefits of solar panels improving tea quality—a clear case of "1+1>2."

According to Yunnan Daily, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Yunnan has promoted complementary and synergistic development across sectors such as "new energy + agriculture," "new energy + transportation," and "new energy + construction." Particularly, the integrated model of "power generation above, cultivation below" has opened new paths for ecological restoration, green development, and livelihood improvement. Over 15 prefectures and more than 10 key energy enterprises have adopted various models like "agrivoltaics," "herb-voltaics," and "tea-voltaics," with completed and under-construction "under-panel economy" projects totaling over 10 GW in capacity and generating more than 13 TWh annually. Pu'er, renowned for its tea and coffee production, has a robust primary sector, which accounted for 23% of its GDP in 2024 with strong growth. In recent years, integrated formats like "tea tourism," "coffee tourism," and wellness vacations have flourished, injecting strong momentum into new energy development in the Pu'er area. Green energy is deeply integrating with natural assets, contributing to Pu'er's sustainable development.

In Jinghong, I strolled along the Lancang River, marveling at how its vast waters power countless homes. Driving 120 kilometers south from Jinggu, the temperature rose sharply by 10 degrees, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of tropical fruits. Jinghong, a city on the banks of the Lancang River, was bustling with Spring Festival travelers. The Lancang River originates on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows through six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, making it a major international river in Asia. As one of China's 13 major hydropower bases, the Lancang River basin is divided into upper Tibetan, upper Yunnan, and middle-lower sections, with abundant hydropower resources and a developable capacity exceeding 32 GW. It is a key energy base for "West-East Power Transmission" and "Yunnan Power Export." In 2025, Yunnan's hydropower generation exceeded 329.7 TWh, accounting for nearly a quarter of the national total.

Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna, sits at a critical node of this energy artery. The Jinghong Hydropower Station, located 5 kilometers upstream, serves as a comprehensive water conservancy hub, providing not only power but also shipping, flood control, water supply, and tourism benefits. The reservoir formed by the dam has turned Jinghong Port into a key hub for international shipping on the Lancang-Mekong River, with goods able to travel downstream to Chiang Saen Port in Thailand. On the third night of the Lunar New Year, I visited the Starry Night Market in Gaozhuang Xishuangjing—the largest night market in Southeast Asia. There, I experienced firsthand the meaning of "shoulder to shoulder" crowds, literally finding it hard to move. Despite the congestion, hearing tourists from all over gather in this border city gave me a genuine sense of festive spirit. The market's vibrancy relies on stable power supply—from lighting to electric grills and mobile payments—all supported by the steady operation of upstream hydropower turbines. Walking along the Lancang River, I deeply felt its significance: not only does its scenery leave lasting memories for visitors, but its clean energy also lights up homes in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, and even downstream regions and countries. Since the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system, clean energy projects like hydropower have been seen as benefitting both current and future generations. The clean energy we are developing today will lay a solid foundation for happier lives tomorrow.

During the 2026 Spring Festival in southern Yunnan, I saw not only rich cultural diversity but also practical examples of clean energy integration with other industries, showcasing a frontier province's steady progress in building a national clean energy base. The transmission towers and solar arrays in Pu'er, and the Lancang River and bustling night markets in Jinghong, are unforgettable memories. Both areas, part of the Lancang River basin, share the benefits of Yunnan's green energy. Pu'er is building momentum—with new energy projects proliferating through industrial integration—while Jinghong is already thriving, with hydropower nurturing a vibrant modern service sector and growing openness. Pu'er's wind and solar resources and Xishuangbanna's blue waves are shining gems on this path—one rising, the other prospering—together composing an era of green power driving transformative change in mountain regions.