China publishes consolidated map of national geothermal resource data
China has announced the country’s first big data and visualization platform that consolidates data on the country’s geothermal springs and wells.
The China Coal Hydrology Bureau and Fuzhou University recently held a press conference in Ningde City, Fujian Province to announce the launch of a big data application platform that consolidates and provides visualization of the country’s geothermal resources data. The “One Map of China’s Geothermal Resources” is a first-of-its-kind project for China and provides a useful tool for geothermal development and utilization.
The map has currently catalogues 2407 hot springs and 2057 geothermal wells across China. It also has information on 4252 large and medium-sized faults across the country, which can be targets for geothermal drilling. Clicking on each hot spring or well will display parameters such was water temperature and flowrate.
The map divides geothermal resources in China into two types – tectonic geothermal belts and large geothermal basins. It also presents a pioneering grading standard for geothermal sites. Through big data algorithms, the platform can be used to predict geothermal resource reserves and well parameters. This scientific and systematic classification provides important technical guidance for the development of geothermal resources in China.
To apply learnings from the China Geothermal Map, the China Coal Hydrology Bureau located and drilled a high-temperature geothermal well at a depth of 1740 meters in Tanyang Village in January 2025. The temperature at the bottom of the well was measured at 82°C and the surface water temperature was 52°C. Hot water from the well was supplied to the village’s capsule homestay facility. The agency has also built a geothermal heat demonstration project in the high-altitude area of Baoshan Village in Gansu Province.
In the future, the China Coal Hydrology Bureau aims to continue promoting the integration of geothermal projects with initiatives on rural revitalizatoin and ecological protection.
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