This is Jincheng in southeastern Shanxi. Framed by the mighty Yellow River and the vast Taihang Mountains, it is where the cultures of the Yellow River and the Loess

Plateau converge. Here, a group of people has taken root and worked diligently, safeguarding their green homeland through an energy transformation.

National Geographic China, in collaboration with Caterpillar, presents the micro-documentary: Dreams Carved in Mountains and Rivers: The Energy Transformation Beneath the Loess (Shanxi Chapter).

The Land of Shanxi, Holding Hidden Potential

As a major energy province, Shanxi supplied over one-quarter of China's raw coal output in 2024. However, a significant safety hazard lurks within the coal mining process: coalbed methane, commonly known as "firedamp" or gas. Shanxi possesses China's richest coalbed methane reserves, particularly concentrated in the Qinshui Coalfield of southeastern Shanxi. In the past, it was often directly vented or flared, releasing large amounts of carbon and nitrogen oxides and exacerbating dust pollution, which plagued local residents.

The Qinshui Sihe Gas Power Plant

In 2006, Shanxi Jinju Coal Electricity & Chemical Co., Ltd., began constructing what was then the world's largest single-site gas power plant—the 120-megawatt Qinshui Sihe Gas Power Plant. This project marked a monumental shift in turning the hazard of gas into a valuable asset. It not only drastically prevented gas accidents but also significantly reduced environmental pollution and brought economic benefits to the region.

The Lujiayu Smart Gas Power Station

With the advent of the era of "low-concentration gas power generation," Shanxi Jinju embarked on a new transformation. The Lujiayu Smart Gas Power Station is the nation's first gas power station equipped with an intelligent platform. All operational data is rendered in 3D visualization, greatly enhancing management efficiency and operational safety.

Currently, the Lujiayu Power Plant is equipped with 16 Cat? G3516C low-concentration gas generator sets. Operating on gas with a concentration between 8% and 12%, it generates up to 140 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Gas power generation has entered a new era!In September 2021, Jincheng was awarded the title of "World Healthy Aging Demonstration City" by the United Nations Institute on Aging.

A World Healthy Aging Demonstration City

In September 2021, Jincheng was awarded the title of "World Healthy Aging Demonstration City" by the United Nations Institute on Aging.

Today, Jincheng's ecological landscape has been remarkably transformed. The clean energy beneath the Loess Plateau and the green mountains and clear waters across Shanxi stand as a testament to the collective efforts of generations of dedicated individuals and enterprises like Jinju. Great change springs from a deep love for this land and an unwavering belief that "Action turns dreams into reality."