The Three-Gorge Project

With the project's going on, December, 2002 will witness the second cut-flow in the Yangtze River, and water will be stored there, in October, the Three- Gorges dam will generate electricity.

More and more people are worrying about the loss of the natural landscapes and human culture created by working-people of thousands of years if  the rise of the water line should do damage to them, and they are eager to know  if the navigation of ships would be changed. In response to these worries,  CITS Head Office organize this article wish could answer your some questions.

2003 will be the key year for the second stage of the Three-Gorge Project. The water is to be stored there in 2003, and the storage of water will not have any side effect on the tourism of the Three Gorges.

1. The change of the water line will be as follows:
The water line won't change until the first of June. The dam will store water from June the 1st to June the 15th, and on the average it will have riser 5 meters per day. However it will have risen 12-15meters during the flood period in the nomal years. Therefore, the height of the rise during the period of storage is much lower than the height during the flood, which has little influence on the ships for tourism. In the 15 days of storage, the water line will have risen from 60 meters (when it's dry)75 meters (when in flood) to 135 meters. It's based on the horizon of the sea on Wusongkou harbor, Shanghai. The water line of the dam will keep 135 meters high until 2006 after the 15th of June. As to the cliffs that are hundreds nearly thousands of meters high, they will still confront each other precipitously. The splendid landscapes will be steeper, grander, prettier, stranger, and serener. As the water line reaches 135 meters, the stops for ships in Fengdu (the Ghost City), Baidicheng(the white Emperor City), Zhongxian (Shibaozhai-pagoda), will remain safe and sound. The Lesser Three-Gorges in Wushan, the Shennong Lesser Gorges (Shennongxi Stream) will not be affected.

2. Analyses in detail are as follows:
After June 15,2003, the water line (flood level) of the Qutang Gorge will have riser 9  meters; In Wuxia Gorge 6 meters; In Xiling Gorge 46 meters. The peaks on both sides of the River are 1,000 to 1,500 meters high, the imposing look of Kuimen Gate can be seen vividly as before, and the 12 peaks of Wuxia Gorge will look elegant.

The famous mountain in Fengdu_Mingshan is 288 meters high. The water line in Fengdu will stay steadily. The city itself will be submerged; but the temple will be there forever.

The gate of the stockade village of Shibaozhai is 173.5 meters above the water line, and the water line won't change in 2003.

In 2003, the parking lot in Baidicheng-the white king city is 150 meters high above the water line, Baidimiao (the white king's temple) 248 meters, the water line is Baidi town will have riser 10 meters, it won't affect the tour. On the contrary, the rise of the water line will make the dock closer to the parking lot, it will be more convenient to tourists, and then, the whole Baidi Mountain will become a peninsula. Standing at the top of the mountain, overlooking the mist-covered lake and Kuimen gate (the third gorge), you will be surprised by the natural beauty. The water line in Daning River, lesser Sanmen Gorge, Longmen Gorge will have risen 18-20 meters, the Lesser Sanmen Gorge will affected slightly, creating a tiny gorge.

The water line in Shennog Lesser Gorges (Shennong Stream) will have riser 34-35 meters. The backwater will lengthier the reach of driftage, the classical item that boat trackers in a natural state hauling boats will come back.

3. The running of ships
On account of the constructive time, the navigable time is divided into 3 phases: the temporary ship gate's navigation; stopping yachts at the dam, tourists climbing over it; the perpetual ship gate's navigation.

November, 2002-April 9, 2003(160 days)
Because of the construction of the dyke for leading water, all ships go through the temporary ship gate, Time needed 1.5 hours.

April 10,2003-June 15,2003(75 days)
From April 4th, 2003 to May 31st, 2003 the temporary ship gate will be clocked, all water will run through the 22 bottom holes of the dam, but the water lines between it won't change.

From June 1st, 2003 to June 15th, 2003
the ship gate will be put down to store water. during this period, all the ships stop upriver at Maoping harbor and the dock of Taipingxi.

June 15, 2003-September, 2006
Use of the perpetual ship gate will begin. All shipping will go through it. Time needed: 2.3 hours. As a new landscape, you will have more time to experience its majesty. At that time, all the run-through navigable lines will be more convenient and safe.

In general, the Three Gorges in 2003 will hold its magnificence and splendor to welcome you. Even some unique attractions are expected to be discovered by you, such as: the mysterious Wushan mountain, the still lake in the arduous gorge, the miraculous rain in Bashan mountain on nights, rosy clouds over Baidicheng city. All these mutual and man-made scenes await tourist's form home and abroad.

Scenic spots Flooding water line Water line after June 15, 2003 

Chongqing
170-178meter
0meter

Fengdu
140-146meter
0meter

Wanxian
115-125meter
10meter

Yunyang
98-110meter
25meter

Fengjie
90-105meter
30meter

Wushan
83-98meter
37meter

Badong
81-90meter
45meter

Dam
70-75meter
70-75meter

>>>> Three Gorges Info Center