A picturesque photo of the Photovoltaic Industrial Park after the rain, Dunhuang, Gansu province, on May 31, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

At the end of May, after a gentle rain, the scenery at the Photovoltaic Industrial Park, situated 13 kilometers west of Dunhuang, becomes picturesque and captivating.

The Dunhuang Photovoltaic Industrial Park is situated north of Qili town and north of National Highway 215, on the Gobi Desert. It covers an area of 254 square kilometers and is a must-see on the western tourist route of Dunhuang. The unique natural conditions have made Dunhuang a hot spot for the development of the photovoltaic industry in China.

Dunhuang enjoys strong solar radiation and long sunshine hours, with an annual sunshine duration exceeding 3,257.9 hours and an annual total radiation of 6,882.57 joules per square meter. Additionally, Dunhuang has vast desert areas with ample usable land, making it suitable for constructing large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power stations. The Gobi Desert area suitable for such development is approximately 3,500 square kilometers, with a potential installed capacity of 120 million kilowatts.

In recent years, Dunhuang has leveraged its superior wind and solar resources to focus on building the Photovoltaic Industrial Park, vigorously developing the new energy industry, and expanding the green economy. The Dunhuang Photovoltaic Industrial Park has become the earliest constructed, largest contiguous area, and highest installed capacity photovoltaic industrial park in Gansu province.