Prepaid land use rights (Details) - CNY (¥)
¥ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Land use rights, minimum lease term 40 years  
Land use rights, maximum lease term 50 years  
Cost ¥ 615,121 ¥ 600,904
Less: accumulated amortization (76,977) (64,541)
Current portion of prepaid land use rights (recorded in other current assets) 12,821 12,155
Non-current portion of prepaid land use rights 525,323 524,208
Net 538,144 ¥ 536,363
China Construction Bank | Long-term loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 24,328  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 45,000  
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | Long-term loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 69,043  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 84,000  
China Everbright Bank | Short-term loans    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 7,929  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 50,000  
China Everbright Bank | Long-term loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 200,315  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 1,152,000  
Bank of Tianjin | Long-term loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 40,661  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 150,000  
Bank of Jiangsu | Long-term loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 8,231  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights 35,000  
Shanghai Jinglong Solar Technology Co., Ltd. ("JA Jinglong") | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | Short-term loans    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Net book value of prepaid land use rights pledged as collateral 69,043  
Bank loan secured by pledge of prepaid land use rights ¥ 44,938