Three Gorges Dam China, Yangtze River
Frequently Asked Questions
At Sandouping, the Hubei town where the structure is anchored between two mountains across the Yangtze. Nearly all river cruises between Chongqing and Yichang call there, and the shore excursion leaves straight from the quay.
About four hours for large ships, which use a five-step water staircase in a double lane. Many cruises schedule it for the evening: the chamber walls close, the water rises or falls with a low rumble, and passengers watch from the outer decks.
The largest in the world. It raises the hull and its water basin in some forty minutes, a solution reserved for lighter vessels under 3,000 tonnes. Ask on board: depending on your ship you will experience the locks or the lift.
The best overall view of the site. Observation platforms with telescopes look out on one side over the reservoir stretching upstream, on the other over the lock staircase where convoys wait in line. On a clear day you take in the wall, the cranes and the mountains at a glance.
That it is neither an old city nor a beach. You come to measure what humans dared to do with one of the planet's great rivers: power generation, flood control, navigation opened as far as Chongqing. The site lays out figures, models and viewpoints.
It depends on the guide. Commentary sometimes covers the towns and villages displaced by the reservoir, which river elders still mention. The place does not set out to move you: it lets each visitor decide, and opinions on board often differ.
No, the site is toured with a guide as part of the cruise line's excursion. That is also what makes the scale of the project comprehensible, since the explanations form a large part of the visit.
The longest of the Yangtze's three gorges, beginning downstream of the dam. Its wooded slopes and grey walls recall what the landscape must have been before the works, and the sailing regains a more contemplative rhythm.
Yes, especially for children curious about machinery and big engineering: watching the lock transit from the deck fascinates at any age. Do expect stairs and open, sunny platforms at Tanziling park.
Spring and autumn, April to May and September to October: mild temperatures, less stubborn mist and better visibility from the lookouts. Summer is heavy and often hazy in the gorges.
