Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam Project was completed in 2009. Situated at Sandouping Town of Yichang City, Hubei Province, the Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydro-power station in the world with an annual energy output of 84.7 billion kilowatt-hours. The Three Gorges Dam includes three areas: the dam itself, a hydroelectric, and a system of locks. The height of the Three Gorges Dam is 185 meters (607 ft) above the sea level. The dam is about 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) long and about 115 meters (377 ft) wide. With a water capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters, the dam will hold a huge reservoir which will efficiently prevent flooding in the middle and lower portions of the Yangtze River.

The 1,000-square-kilometers (386 square miles) reservoir is an artificial lake showing visitors a picturesque view in sunny days that the wide blue lake and the vast azure sky merge at the horizon. The dam would discharge flood during the flood period (July and August), if you are just visiting the Three Gorges Dam at that time, you will enjoy the marvelous spectacle of flood discharge. In July 2010, the flood peak arrived Three Gorges Dam with the speed was 36,000 cubic meters per second, the dam opened 9 spillways to release the flood, so as to function in an emergency. Through the 9 spillways, shot forth 9 water columns (50-meter or 164 ft long) in the water mist. At last, they turned into whitecap and disappeared in the waves.

There are two good places to watch the dam. 185 Platform gets its name because of its height–185 meters (607 ft), equivalent to the height of the dam. Dam Viewing Point is the best position to have a view on the dam and the marvelous spectacle of flood discharge.

As a modern wonder, the Three Gorges Dam together with Gezhou Dam form a new landscape adorning the Yangtze River together with other natural scenery (like The Lesser Three Gorges, Wu Gorge and Shennong Stream), ancient relics (such as White Emperor City and Qu Yuan Ancestral Temple).

Features

• With an area of 15 square kilometers (5.8 square mils), the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area consists of five parts: Exhibition Hall of the Three Gorges Project, Tanzi Ridge, 185 Platform, Memorial Garden and Dam Viewing Point.
• Located in the middle section of Xiling Gorge, one of the three gorges (the other two are Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge), the three gorges form the most beautiful sections of the Yangtze River.
• As one of the largest dams in the world, hence a reservoir covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) formed, which is also an attractive landscape.
• A Yangtze Cruise will pass the Three Gorges Dam.
• The Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area is a tourist attraction combining modern project, nature scenery and cultural landscapes.

Tanzi Ridge

Tanzi Ridge is located in the surveying point for the Three Gorges Dam Project with a 262.5 meters (861 ft) height above sea level. So it is the best position to have a panorama of the Three Gorges Dam Project. The shape of Tanzi Ridge is just like a crock, hence its name Tanzi (means crock in Chinese) Ridge. The Tanzi Ridge is divided into three storeys according to the increase of height. Visitors can enjoy the relievos, the 800-million-year old stone (more than 20 ton weight) from the bottom of the Yangtze River, a huge book sculpture recorded the introduction of the Three Gorges Dam Project, etc.

History and Benefits

It has taken 17 years to complete the entire project including three stages, from 1993 to 2009. During the first phase (from 1993 to 1997), the main channel of the Yangtze River was blocked and its water diverted into a side channel, so that the dam construction could take place. The second phase lasted 6 years from 1998 to 2003. During this period, the work was focused on constructing the cofferdam (a temporary barrier that keeps water out of a normally submerged area), the locks, and the hydroelectric plant. By the end of 2003, the first and the second phases had been successfully completed. During the third phase (from 2003 to 2009), the installation of all machinery, the construction of the power station and the dam on the right bank were finished.

Of course, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project has brought a huge controversy relating to economic, technical, environment, migration, tourism and the protection fields. The construction of the dam has flooded archaeological and cultural sites and displaced some 1.3 million people, and is causing significant ecological changes, including an increased risk of landslides. Hence the dam has been a controversial topic both in China and abroad.

Till today, we need to face the benefits as well as the problems from the Three Gorges Dam Project. For one hand, it brings many benefits such as flood control, power generation, navigation and tourism; for another hand, it also causes some problems like sediment problem, environmental problem, migration problem, and landscape losses.

Travel Essentials

• Ticket price: 105 yuan per adult.
• How to get there: Every day in Yichang City, there are tourist shuttle buses departing from No.80, Dongshan Avenue (东山大道80号) or Liuzhashou Tourist Reception Center (六闸首游客接待中心) to the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area. Travelers can take city bus line 3, 4, 9, 21 and 100 to No.80, Dongshan Avenue; or take city bus line 1, 10, 21, 100, 101 to Yemingzhu Station, then change bus No.8, and get down at Liuzhashou Tourist Reception Center.

Nearby Attractions

• Wu Gorge: the second of the Three Gorges and is flowed through by Yangtze River, famous for its mountains covered with forests, and changeable clouds and mists wreathing around the tops.
• The Chinese Sturgeon Museum: is an institution dedicated to the preservation of rare fishes named Chinese sturgeon living in the Yangtze River.
• Huangling Temple: one of the oldest buildings in the Three Gorges area, it was first built in the Spring and Autumn Periods over 2500 years ago.