Lights out for Shanghai's Bund in China power-saving push

©Xinhua News

China has been hit by extreme weather this summer, including record temperatures, flash floods and droughts -- phenomena that scientists have warned are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. To save power, Shanghai turned off decorative lights along its famed Bund riverfront on August 22, 2022, as a nationwide heatwave sends power demands soaring, authorities said. The lights will remain off for two days.

Ornamental lights, billboards and video screens on both sides of the Huangpu River would be turned off on Monday and Tuesday, according to the notice. The heatwave has reduced stretches of the Yangtze River, China's most vital inland waterway, to unprecedented drought levels, according to official data.

The latest measure is in line with the requirements for the 2022 Shanghai power supply program for the summer peak (2022年上海市迎峰度夏有序用电方案) that was issued in June of this year. This summer, China is dealing with a power crunch amid a record heat wave.