On May 12, the Changsha Olympic Sports Center project seized the golden window for construction and is striving to achieve the goal of topping out the main concrete structure of the main stadium. Currently, the project has completed the pile foundation and underground structure construction for the 'one stadium and two arenas' and is in the critical stage of main concrete structure construction. The supporting energy center's main structure has been successfully topped out, and the concrete main structure is expected to be topped out within the year.

As a major traction project for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan integration, the Changsha Olympic Sports Center project has a total construction area of about 550,000 square meters and a total investment of about 6.8 billion yuan. It plans to build a 65,000-seat main stadium, an 18,000-seat comprehensive gymnasium, and a 4,000-seat diving and swimming hall. Among them, the main stadium is led by China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd. and is currently in the critical stage of main concrete structure construction.

Advancing in parallel with the main stadium is the project's supporting energy center, whose main structure was successfully topped out a few days ago. This system, which provides centralized energy supply for the 'one stadium and two arenas', is vividly called the 'Xiangjiang Air Conditioner'. The technical director explained that it burns neither coal nor gas; instead, it uses river water source heat pump technology to turn the Xiangjiang River into a huge natural 'energy pool'.

In summer, the water temperature of the Xiangjiang River is lower than the air temperature, and in winter it is higher. The system only consumes a small amount of electricity to drive the heat pump. In winter, it extracts heat from the river water to heat the venues; in summer, it discharges the heat from the venues into the relatively cooler river water to achieve cooling. The entire process only involves heat exchange, does not consume water resources, and does not change water quality. The drainage process actually helps improve the water quality of the river.

According to estimates, compared with traditional central air conditioning systems, the 'Xiangjiang Air Conditioner' can reduce building electricity consumption by 30% to 40% and save 30% of unit electricity costs. Considering that sports venues are used relatively infrequently on a daily basis, the energy center will also reserve interfaces for supplying energy to surrounding areas after completion, and is expected to build a regional energy network with the Olympic Sports Center as the core in the future.

As the main venue for the 16th National Games, the Changsha Olympic Sports Center is expected to be fully completed and put into trial operation in 2028. By then, it will become an important carrier for the development of sports in Hunan and the enhancement of the city's image, injecting new momentum into the development of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan metropolitan area.