Three Gorge Dam, the largest dam structure in the world

Located in the city of Yichang in Hubei province, China. A straight-crested concrete gravity structure, the Three Gorges Dam is 2,335 metres long with a maximum height of 185 metres. It incorporates 28 million cubic metres (37 million cubic yards) of concrete and 463,000 metric tons of steel into its design. When construction of the dam officially began in 1994, it was the largest engineering project in China. At the time of its completion in 2006, it was the largest dam structure in the world.

Submerging large areas of the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges for some 600 km upstream, the dam has created an immense deepwater reservoir allowing oceangoing freighters to navigate 2,250 km inland from Shanghai on the East China Sea to the inland city of Chongqing. Limited hydroelectric power production began in 2003 and gradually increased as additional turbine generators came online over the years until 2012, when all of the dam’s 32 turbine generator units were operating. Those units, along with 2 additional generators, gave the dam the capacity to generate 22,500 megawatts of electricity, making it the most productive hydroelectric dam in the world.

As well as producing electricity, the dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River's shipping capacity. By providing flood storage space, the dam reduces the potential for floods downstream which could possibly affect millions. China regards the project as monumental as well as a social and economical success,with the design of state-of-the-art large turbines,and a move toward limiting greenhouse gas emissions.However, the dam flooded archaeological and cultural sites, displaced some 1.3 million people, and had caused significant ecological changes including an increased risk of landslides.The dam has been controversial both domestically and abroad.

The scenic area of Three Gorges Dam covers an area of 15.28km2. Taking the dam itself as the main attraction, the scenic area now has three parts open to the public: Tanziling Ridge, 185 Platform and the Commemorating Park of the Interception. The scenic area fully shows the culture of the hydropower project, and it also provides a multi-functional experience which combines tourism, education, leisure and entertainment into one, and also makes a perfect combination of modern engineering, natural scenery and human landscape.

● Highlights of the Three Gorge Project

Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, also called Three Gorges Dam Ship Elevator, is not only the largest but also the most sophisticated ship lift in the world.The vertical-hoisting “elevator” can lift cruises/vessels up or down 370 feet (about 113 meters) to pass Three Gorges Dam across Yangtze River in Hubei Province;550-feet-high (about 169 meters) structure can lift cruises/vessels carrying weight of up to 3,000 tonnes;
The elevator cuts down the time it takes to pass the dam to around 40 minutes compared to the four hours it takes to pass via the Five-stage Ship Lock.Travelers can personally reveal and have a better know about the last mystery of Three Gorges Dam Project by experiencing the latest construction of Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift. In the whole year of 2019, Victoria Cruises, Century Cruises, Yangtze Gold Cruises and Changjiang Cruises will offer optional experience to sail through the new Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift both for downstream and upstream. It definitely should be a fresh and special experience for travelers to Three Gorges Dam.

Five-stage Ship locks

The five-stage Three Gorges Dam ship locks is the world larges ship lock at present, with an overall length of 6.4km, and the water level difference of it reaches to 113m, which means ships need to climb up and down 40 floor's height when they passing the ship locks. This has been selected as the world record. Travellers taking either upstream of downstream Yangtze River cruises can enjoy shipping through the five stage ship locks to see its working theory and marvel at the wisdom of human beings. Since the whole shipping would take about 3.5 hours, you could take your time to see the ship passing through from one stage to next. Moreover, when you visit the Tanziling Ridge, you can have a full view of that “World MOST” project.

● Main Scenic Spots of the Dam

As the pearl of the Yangtze River, Three Gorges Dam is the top highlight during Yangtze Cruise Tour between Chongqing to Yichang and Shanghai. Now each Yangtze Cruise has the arranged shore excursion to the dam. Tourists can have time to visit the dam tourist area, which includes mainly:

Gorges Exhibition

Built in 1992, the Gorges Exhibition mainly tells the history of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam by documentary films, pictures and some facilities. Besides, the exhibition has preserved kinds of patterns of the dam in different stages of construction and the sample of Chinese sturgeon. If you are interested about the history of the dam, you can speed more time visit here and get to know the dam more.


Tanzi Ling Park

With 262.48 meters above sea level, Tanzi Ling Park is the first spot opened to tourists in 1997. As the dam construction survey point, it shares the best location to see panoramic views of the Three Gorges project. Here you can not only able to enjoy the powerful& splendid Three Gorges Dam, but also watch the precipice of "Yangtze River gorge IV" Two-way lock (the five stages ship locks), as well as spectacular fountains, beautiful waterfalls, meandering streams, green lawn throughout the meantime.


185 Park Zone

Located in the left side of the top dam road, the 185 Park Zone has the same sea level of the dam, so it was called “185 Park”. Standing at the platform, you can feel the height of the dam and view the surface of water in the impounding reservoir. Looking at the foot of the magnificent, distant and calm river, you will be astonished by the static and dynamic beauty rhyming each other.


Memorial Park

Situated in the right side of the dam with 800 meters lower, Memorial Park is composed by performances square, display halls, slide shows and more scenic sites. Facing the dam and mountains behind, Memorial Park is the best place to taking photos with the dam, which can’t miss out.