Three Gorges Dam

The world’s largest hydropower project

The Three Gorges Dam, near Yichang in Hubei Province, is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world and a key highlight on many Yangtze River itineraries. Built across Xiling Gorge, it holds back a huge reservoir of over 1,000 km² and plays a major role in power generation and flood control on the Yangtze.

A visit lets you appreciate both the sheer scale of the dam and the changes it has brought to the region: massive ship locks, a record‑breaking ship lift, panoramic viewing platforms and an exhibition area about the project’s history and impact. Are you curious to see one of modern China’s most ambitious engineering works up close?

What to see at the Three Gorges Dam

The tourist area is organized into several viewpoints connected by shuttle buses, usually visited over 2–4 hours:

- 185 Platform / Tanziling Scenic Spot
  The main viewing point at elevation 185 m, offering wide views of the dam body, upstream reservoir and downstream ship locks.
- Ship Locks and Ship Lift
  From dedicated observation decks you can watch the five‑stage ship locks raising or lowering vessels about 113 m, and see the gigantic vertical ship lift in action – currently the largest of its kind in the world.
- Three Gorges Project Exhibition Hall / Museum
  Scale models, films and interactive exhibits explain how the dam was built, its role in power generation and navigation, as well as environmental and social issues such as resettlements and submerged heritage sites.
- Short tributary cruises and nearby gorges
  From Yichang you can also take shorter boat trips towards Xiling Gorge, or side trips to Shennong Stream or Goddess Stream (Shennv Stream) for more natural scenery, Tujia minority villages and narrow canyon views.

Most travelers experience the dam either as a shore excursion on a 3–4 day Yangtze cruise between Chongqing and Yichang, or on a day trip from Yichang itself.

Access, timing and how to include it in your trip

- Base city: Yichang (Yichang East high‑speed railway station, airport, cruise ports).
- Transport to the dam: special tourist highway or organized shuttle from Yichang to the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area in Sandouping (about 1–1.5 hours).
- Recommended duration:
  - Half‑day: main viewpoints + exhibition area.
  - Full day: dam visit plus a short Yangtze or tributary cruise and additional Yichang sights.

The Three Gorges Dam fits perfectly into:

- A Yangtze River cruise itinerary between Chongqing and Yichang.
- A broader Hubei route including Enshi Grand Canyon, Luyuanping and the Wudang Mountains.