The Three-Gorge Dam

Name in Chinese: 三峡大坝  Sān Xiá Dà Bà  [sæ ʃa: da: ba:]

Duration of Tour: Two or Three Hours

Location: Yiling District, Yichang Prefecture, Hubei Province

Highlights: the Magnificence of the World’s Largest Water Conservancy Project

Reputations: the Largest Hydro Power Station in the World, a Five-star Scenic Area

    The Three-Gores Dam lies at the east of the Three Gorges. It is the largest hydro power station in the world, is the main component of the Three-Gorge Water Conservancy Project. In the year of 1918, Dr. Sun Yatsen(1866-1925) proposed to exploit the hydroelectric resources of the Yangtze River. Dr. Sun Yatsen is regarded as the father of the nation. He was also the first man who launched a programme to build a huge hydro power station on the river. Unfortunately, the great man passed away before he could finish his life’s work, the peace and prosperity of the country. The programme of construction remained on ice for decades due to China’s Civil War and World War II.

    After the People’s Republic of China was established, the project of the Three-Gorge Dam became one of Chinese Government’s primary concern. The government started the construction of Gezhouba Dam in the year of 1974. There were fourteen years between initiation and completion. It was the first hydro power station on the Yangtze River. The late leaders, such as Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping went on a tour of inspection of the project. Later on, the National People’s Congress decreed that the whole of Three-Gorge Water Conservancy Project must be completed. The resolution was carried by a huge majority in the year of 1992. The project was begun in 1994 and completed in 2006. It has brought many changes to the Yangtze River, such as the flood control, the hydro power generation, the shipping industry, aquaculture, water supply and irrigation.

    The dam is 2,308 meters(7,572 feet) in length and 185 meters(607 feet) in height. A huge reservoir has been formed by damming the Yangtze River. It measures 1,084 square kilometers(419 sq.mi). Nowadays, the plant generates a huge amount of electricity of over one trillion KWH per year. The Three-Gorge Dam was designated as a national five-star scenic area in the year of 2007. It has become one of the main attractions along the Yangtze River.

    Travel Tips:

    How to Get to the Three-Gorge Dam

    The dam is located in Sandouping Township, about 40 kilometers(25 miles) to the northwest of downtown Yichang. A tourist who spends days cruising the Three Gorges may go ashore at Maoping Pier and pay a visit to the dam. The others who travel to Yichang by land may ride a car form the city to the Visitor Center of the scenic area. All the visitors can take shuttle buses to visit each of the sightseeing spots in the scenic area from either the pier or the Visitor Center. Yichang is a city in Western Hubei Province. Yichang Sanxia Airport operates flights to 17 domestic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Shenzhen and Xiamen. People can also take a bullet train to Yichang from some cities, such as, Chongqing, Wuhan and Shanghai.

    Opening Hours:

    8:00 a.m.---5:30 p.m.

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Author: Tina Luo

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