Himin Group's Sun-Moon Mansion

This rabbit recently hopped over to the city of Dezhou, in Shandong Province, to partake in some Earth Day festivities with a few friends. While there, I learned more about the greening of China and the significant role Dezhou plays in this cleantech movement. The future certainly looks bright for 德州!

Did you know that Dezhou is one of the leading global players in solar technology today? The city boasts a thriving research and development, manufacturing, and tourism center and those in the renewable industry often refer to Dezhou as China’s Solar Valley. The Chinese government has supported the cleantech movement in this region through preferential tax benefits and other various policies that helped attract top firms to Dezhou. In just a few short years, China has become the leading manufacturer of wind turbines and solar panels around the world. It appears China has really stepped up in a significant way to promote sustainable technology.

According to the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), there were 1.12 million renewable energy jobs in China, as of 2008; the association believes more than 100,000 new jobs will be added each year in China going forward. The solar industry in China is very robust and is currently experiencing a growth rate of nearly 30 percent a year. It is China’s stated goal to have 8 percent of their electricity generation come from solar, biomass, and wind by the year 2020. The government plans to subsidize renewables to the tune of $450 billion over the next five years to help meet this goal.

– China’s Solar Valley in Dezhou (Promotional Video) – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8t8QBONHY[/youtube]

The 4^th International Solar Cities Congress (ISCC) will take place in Dezhou this fall. Since the city is a world leader in solar panel manufacturing, it only seems appropriate that the world’s largest solar building will be hosting the event. The Sun-Moon Mansion, headquarters of Himin Group, houses research and development facilities, exhibition space, offices, and even a luxury hotel. The solar panels meet 95 percent of the building’s energy needs. The iconic sundial structure is meant to symbolize the contribution the local citizens are making toward greening their country.

Do you think China’s environment or economy benefits more from renewable energy? What is your city doing to position itself as a leader in renewable energy? It’s comforting to know that this rabbit’s hometown is striving to become a world leader in the clean technology economy.

After placing a horse in my travel position, this dragon was blessed with a trip to Cancun. Though I took my Blackberry phone with the red paper behind it and never turned it on, the red paper and phone still performed its magic! (See my earlier article on the wonders of red paper behind your business phone.)

With Blackberry in claw, I started out in a rustic, mosquito-ridden hotel room on the island of Isla Mujeres and soon manifested a major “free” upgrade by moving to Sun Palace, an all-inclusive resort on the hotel zone.

I ended up in a suite big enough for this dragon, including a huge in-room jacuzzi, ocean view, and awesome fire show on the beach! I got massaged, “facialed,” seaweed wrapped, and manicured as part of the package deal! (My scales have never felt or looked better!)

All food, drinks, and most tours were included and free after we joined the royal membership of Palace Resorts. (While there, I had steak almost every day, till I couldn’t take any more! And I thoroughly devoured six-course Italian dinners for two nights. Alka Seltzer time!)

On the tour to Chichen Itza I loved  flying over the main temple, that is until I realized this was where hearts were once cut out of sacrifices! It was kind of creepy. (I myself prefer that my sacrifices [aka food] not suffer. It’s not polite to play with your food you know.)

On my last day in this luscious resort, I launched off the room balcony to cruise over the ocean at sunrise! Ah, freedom! Check out the view below!

I later found out that Sun Palace is number 3 in Trip Advisor for Cancun. It was number one in my book!

If you and your honey would like to go to Sun Palace or another Palace all-inclusive, drop me a line for a very cool discounted rate! (You can have this sensational holiday for under $2000 for two people [or dragons]! Be prepared to be treated like royalty with no worries beyond deciding between steak, shrimp, lobster… pina colada, strawberry margarita, mint julep… Chichen Itza, Tulum, Isla Mujeres…)

Ah, paradise…