The power stations supplying the mainland's factories and smelters are humming louder in another sign a recovery in the world's third-biggest economy may be gaining strength.
Mainland power output, a key barometer of economic activity, expanded 4.21 per cent year on year last month, the second consecutive month of growth registered this year.
Across the broader economy, there are other so-called green shoots of recovery: manufacturing activity, retails sales and cargo are all up.
'We believe China's growth recovery can be sustained,' said UBS economist Wang Tao, who forecasts the economy will expand 8.2 per cent this year and 8.5 per cent next year.
Power consumption, considered one of the most reliable measures of economic health because it reflects a broad scope of activity, is one of the brighter spots in the recovery story.
National power output last month grew 4.21 per cent to 348.49 billion kilowatt-hours, the highest this year, Shanghai Securities News reported, quoting figures from the State Electrical Power Distribution Centre. That was higher than the 3.59 per cent growth seen in June, the first month of expansion after eight consecutive months of declines.