Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River has been a dream for generations and will be one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind. This great dam, the largest of its kind in the world, will provide China with tremendous power generation and flood control services. It was in 1992 that the Chinese Government finally gave the go ahead for the scheme, some seventy years after Dr. Sun Yet-Sen, pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution, first proposed the idea.

What's New
New Yangtze Sightseeing
Three Gorges Project
Schedule of Three Gorges Project
FAQs
 Photos of Three Gorges Dam

 What's New

Yangtze enter its one-year period of trial navigation

From June 16th, 2003, the Yangtze enters its one-year period of trial navigation. All cruise ships will pass through the permanent Three Gorges ship locks. The mighty Yangtze, winding through the heart land of China, presents tourists a new look with more historical and natural wonders! See new attraction list of Yangtze.

The Three Gorges Project Opens to Navigation

On June 16th, 2003, two passenger ships - Princess of China Regal Cruise and China Sunshine successfully passed through the newly completed five-level ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam. It signified the accomplishment of a major goal of the Three Gorges Project. From June 16th, 2003, the two-way five-level permanent ship locks will open for a one-year trial navigation period.

Travel China Guide's Report on June 16th, 2003

June 16th, 2003 is a historical time on Chinese river navigation history. The first navigation on the newly completed Three Gorges Dam will occur. Two passenger ships and five freight ships are planned to pass through the two-way five-level permanent ship lock on the Dam.

After its completion, the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River will provide significant flood control and power generation advances in China: Its Hydropower Station is expected to generate 84.7 billions kwh per year, or one-ninth of the country's total generated power. Completion in 2009 is expected.
 Three Gorges Project

Project Introduction

The Three Gorges Dam will comprise three parts: the dam itself, the hydropower stations and the navigation facility.

Graphic picture of the Three Gorges Dam (Updated on June 20, 2003)

Location: The chosen site is in Sandouping, northwest of Yichang city in Hubei Province and is located at the downstream entrance to Xiling Gorge, 40 kilometers upstream from Gezhouba Dam.

Project Schedule

Expected to have a total duration of 17 years, the work has been divided into three stages.

5 years (1993 -- 1997) Preparation period and first stage construction.
6 years (1998 -- 2003) Second stage construction
7 years (2003 -- 2009) Third stage construction

First Stage (1993 -- 1997)

The initial stage involved preparation work and in 1994, the project was formally commenced. In the main this entailed the filling of the cofferdam and excavation of the diversion channel in the first stage construction pit. At the same time, on the left bank of the river a temporary ship lock was constructed. The water and shipping continued to follow the original river course. In 1997, the successful damming of the Yangtze River attracted very many tourists at home and from abroad.

Second Stage (1998 -- 2003)

The main tasks of this stage are to construct the further cofferdams both upstream and downstream, electricity station facilities on the left dam and the installation of machinery. Meanwhile, the permanent navigation buildings will be finished on the left bank. During the second period, the river water will flow through the diversion channel and shipping will use either the open diversion channel or the temporary ship lock.

Third Stage (2003 -- 2009)

After the successful completion of the second stage, the third stage will become the focus of attention. During this period, the power station on the left bank and the permanent ship lock will be brought into use. All ships on the river will use the permanent ship lock while the river will flow through the permanent bottom and the temporary diversion outlets in the spillway dam. The dam sections and the electricity station on the right riverbank will be constructed, and the installation of all machinery will be finished. Once the project is completed in 2009 the depth of normal level of the water in the reservoir will be 175 meters.

Project Benefits

What benefits will Three Gorges Dam Project bring to the people? It is a very popular topic nowadays. According to the China's network, there will be four main advantages:

Flood Control: after the implementation of the TGP, its normal pool level will produce a flood control capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters, which will be sufficient to control the greatest flood experienced in the past 100 years; With the help of the flood diversion structure, the Three Gorges Dam Project will protect both banks of the Yangtze River from suffering the kind of destruction that has occurred over the past 1000 years. The fact is that the Three Gorges Dam Project, like a guardian angel, will protect 23,000,000 mu of farmland (1,533,333 hectares), the lives of 15 million people and property in the down river area of the Changjiang.

Power generation: the river water will generate electricity in the hydropower stations. The profits are considerable. The anticipated annual electricity generation is 84.6 billion kilowatt hours. It will be the number one in the world and will play an important role in the development of the economy and reduction of environmental pollution.

Navigation: the 600km long waterway from Yichang to Chongqing will be improved, making it possible for 10,000 tons of shipping to sail directly upstream to Chongqing. The river transport will be improved from 10 million to 50 million tons per year and the costs reduced by 35-37 percent. After the adjustment to the reservoir, navigation conditions both upstream and downstream on the Yangtze River will have been greatly improved in those seasons when water levels have been low.

Tourism: The Three Gorges Dam Project will promote further tourism. As the largest water conservancy in the world combined with the world-renowned natural beauty the Three Gorges will become the "hottest" tourist and press attraction in recent years. See new attraction list of Yangtze

Conclusion: The Three Gorges Dam Project shows rapid change with each passing day. To develop tourism, the China Three Gorges Dam Project Corporation built the Tanziling to enable visitors to see the panorama of Three Gorges from the highest point of the building site. The exhibition house and environmental garden are located in the dam area, which includes the natural scenic spot Maogongshan and the old architecture Huangling Temple. Combined, these highlight the beauty of science and culture while showing the value of the Three Gorges Dam Project in China's water Conservancy effort.

Schedule of Three Gorges Project

August 2003
The first batch of two turbine generator units will begin to generate electricity in August and combined with the other two, they are estimated to generate 5.5 billon kilowatts.

June 16th, 2003
The first navigation of the Yangtze River Dam

On June 16th, 2003, two passenger ships - Princess of China Regal Cruise and China Sunshine successfully passed through the newly completed five-level ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam. It signified the accomplishment of a major goal of the Three Gorges Project and the fulfillment of the long-time dream of Chinese generations. From June 16th, 2003, the two-way five-level permanent ship locks will open for a one-year trial navigation period.

June 10th, 2003
The water level has been raised to 135 meters, which paved the way for the first navigation on the Yangtze River Dam.

After the success of the closure of the sluice gate at the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River on June 1st, 2003, the water level of Yangtze River has been completely lifted to 135 meters by June 10th, five days ahead of the project schedule. This paved the way for the first navigation through the Yangtze River Dam.

June 1st, 2003
The successful closure of the sluice gate

At 9:00, June 1st, with a press of a switch, the No.20 sluice gate began to be closed and the Three Gorges Dam started to fill. The water level is planned to rise from 100 meters to 135 meters in 15 days. The storage of water is increased to 12.3 billion cubic meters from the original 2.3 billion cubic meters.

May 21, 2003
Preparations for storing water in the Three Gorges reservoir have entered the final stage. The reservoir's water level is set to rise from 80 meters to 98 meters by June 1 and the water level will then reach 135 meters by June 15.

May 1st, 2003
The Cofferdam is destroyed and water runs into the reservoir

April 16th, 2003
The height of the cofferdam reaches 140 meters high 55 days in advance as it was planned.

April 11th, 2003
Yangtze River enters its 67 days navigation break period

The temporary ship lock finished its task and Yangtze River enters its 67 days navigation break period. The navigation will resume by June 16th, 2003. All the Yangtze cruise ships will sail only between Chongqing and Maoping. This will mean that cruise companies will arrange overland transfer for tourists between Wuhan and Maoping, or Yichang and Maoping

Nov 6th, 2002
The damming of the open diversion channel is successfully completed.

On Nov 6th, 2002 the 15-meter opening in the diversion canal dam is successfully closed. The damming of the open diversion channel is of important significance and it paved the way for the third stage Three Gorges Project.