On June 26, during a press conference on geological survey results in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, it was announced that the mining license for geothermal resources at the DR1 well in the East China Sea Grand Canyon mining area has been officially registered and issued.

It is the first geothermal resource mining license to be issued in the city, signifying a breakthrough in the development of island hot springs.

Located in Dinghai district's Ziwei village, the hot spring well has a depth of 2,200 meters, with 200 cubic meters of water emerging daily at a temperature of 48°C. The spring water is rich in metasilicic acid, fluoride, and radon, with the concentrations high enough to provide medical benefits.

A representative from the Zhoushan bureau of natural resources and planning stated that exploration is also underway in Donggang and northern Dinghai, aiming for further breakthroughs in regional hot spring wells.

Zhoushan plans to conduct groundwater resource surveys and evaluations in key island areas, analyzing the potential and distribution patterns of groundwater sources and geothermal hot springs, contributing to economic and social development, according to authorities.

The city has invested over 63 million yuan ($8.67 million) in special funds, conducting a series of geological surveys including coastal zone geological surveys and land quality assessments, resulting in a number of valuable findings.