Shangqiu, Henan: Powering Ancient City Tourism with Reliable Electricity

During the 2025 Spring Festival, the ancient city of Shangqiu made a stunning appearance with a tourist reception of 637,300 visitors. A diverse tapestry of over 110 intangible cultural heritage events, including the renowned Shangqiu Ancient City Opera and the vibrant Huoshen Temple Fair, took center stage, breathing contemporary vitality into the millennia-old city. Underpinning this grand cultural and tourism spectacle was State Grid Shangqiu Power Supply Company, whose outstanding performance of “zero power outages, zero faults” provided the crucial impetus, electrifying the city’s dazzling nightscapes and contributing to the festive atmosphere.

Recognizing the surge in power demands inherent to the Spring Festival celebrations, Shangqiu Power Supply Company took proactive measures. Well in advance, a dedicated task force was assembled to safeguard the city’s power grid. Employing cutting-edge technologies, such as drones and intelligent inspection systems, the team meticulously inspected transmission lines, substations, and switchgear serving the tourist areas of the ancient city. Particular attention was paid to equipment functionality, fire safety systems, dehumidification and heating apparatus, and battery performance. Furthermore, Live-line tests, including infrared thermography and low-voltage testing, were also conducted. Any potential hazard was subsequently compiled, and corresponding mitigation measures were implemented to ensure early detection and prompt resolution.

Throughout the Spring Festival period, Shangqiu Power Supply Company set up multiple “Power Service Stations” to promote electrical safety awareness among visitors and provide essential services. These conveniently located stations were equipped with mobile emergency generators and backup power supplies to support events, meet the temporary power needs of businesses, and offer phone charging for tourists. In addition, several rapid response repair teams were on standby, ready to address any emergencies and ensure uninterrupted power supply for the city’s tourism activities.

From the traditional Huoshen (Fire God) worship ceremonies at the Ebo Terrace to the modern interpretation of digital lighting, the ancient city of Shangqiu, safeguarded by a dependable power supply, is writing a new chapter in the living inheritance of cultural heritage. As visitors marveled at the spectacular “nightless city of radiant fireworks,” the dedicated power service teams weaving through the historic blue brick and black tile buildings became a unique and integral part of the ancient city’s Spring Festival charm.

(By Wang Hui)