Abstract: On the basis of the 12th Five-Year Plan’s development, the four backgrounds of China’s energy development in the 13th Five-Year period are analyzed, that is, the development of China’s economy and energy is entering a new normal state; weaknesses have to be fixed to achieve the national goal of a comprehensive well-off society in 2020; the goals of low-carbon development at national level of 2020 must be met or exceeded; since the Paris agreement has started a new stage of the global green and low-carbon energy development, the direction of low-carbon transition should be well defined in the 13th Five-Year period. Therefore, the pathways of China’s energy low-carbon transition in the 13th Five-Year period are highlighted. The extensive development mode should be replaced by energy saving and efficiency enhancing mode. Coal consumption should be peaked within the 13th Five-Year period. Non-fossil fuels should be vigorously developed. Oil production should remain stable while it is expected to increase natural gas output. Intelligent energy internet should be developed. A low-carbon pathway should be followed as a new pattern of urbanization. Finally, four iconic targets of China’s energy low-carbon transition in the 13th Five-Year period are put forward.

Key words: the 13th Five-Year, energy, low-carbon transition, pathway, target