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As we were cruising upstream along Yangtze within the vicinity of Xiling Gorge, we disembarked at Huangling Temple and boarded a coach. It brought us to tour the site of Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in the world.

Flood control, power generation and navigation improvement - these are the benefits reaped from Three Gorges Dam Project. Expected to be fully operational in 2011, it will eventually submerge over hundreds cities/towns, more than a thousand villages and approximately 30,000 hectares of cultivated land. This dam has the length of 2309 m, a crest elevation of 185 m and a maximum height of 181 m with the spillway section situated in the middle and two powerhouses and non-spillway sections on both sides. Installed with 26 units of 700 megawatts hydro turbine generators, the Three Gorges Power Plant boasts a total generating capacity of 18,200 megawatts and an annual output of 84.7 TWh and might be rated as the greatest of its kind in the world.

Standing at the visitor's stand and viewing north, one will have a bird eye's view of a Double-way Five-stage Shiplock. Phew! In order to cruise upstream, our vessel has to pass f ive stages of shiplock which takes about 3 hours to complete all the stages. This is a permanent double-way five-stage shiplock with total length of 6442 m , total water head of 113 m and it is divided into five stages of 22.6 m each. The dimension of each chamber is 280 m X 34 m X 5 m (length X width X draft) with the north lane for fleets cruising upstream and south lane of opposite direction. The designed cargo fleet passage is about 10,000 tonnes each time with an average annual one-way transportation capacity of 50,000 tonnes; making it the world's largest two-way ship-lock for its steps, total water head and fleet passage.



In the hot afternoon, escaping into The Three Gorges Project Model Room was really a relief. An educational section over here exhibiting miniature concept used and displaying aerial view of this area. It provides a complete understanding about Three Great Gorges water conservation project.

Tanziling Ridge - that's the title of the giant book page captured as below.

Written in both Chinese and English on each page, it describes about the visitor's point elevated by 262 m, erected to provides 360 degree panoramic view encompasses majestic Three Gorges hydroelectric plant at southwest that significantly divides the water level with roaring spilled-water to downstream and the higher calm water at upstream. Looking north, we could see the grand Double-way five-stage shiplock, moving downstream Xiling - Yangtze Bridge is vividly visible. The wall of the visitor's stand is decorated with large sculpture with water and people as the theme.

History was created here and obviously, this stop is remarkably scenic with so much knowledge gained!

Next, we were going to enjoy breathtaking view of Wu Gorge!

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