Three Gorges Dam Ship Locks - One of the Largest Inland Ship Locks in the World

One of the primary reasons for building the Three Gorges Dam was to enhance navigation capacity, a goal largely achieved through the installation of the ship locks. These locks have significantly boosted river shipping and made it much safer.

To accommodate the dam's 100-meter height difference, ships need to be lifted or lowered accordingly. A single lock would face excessive water pressure, so the system employs two ship locks—each consisting of five gates—that adjust vessels by approximately 20 meters per gate.

Positioned on both sides of the dam, the two ship locks span a total length of 1,621 meters. Each gate measures 280 meters in length and 34 meters in width. The lock gates are designed in a double-leaf mitre shape, standing 38.5 meters tall, equivalent to the area of two basketball courts. With this system, the maximum vessel size increased to 10,000 tons—six times larger than before—while reducing shipping costs by 25%.

The ship lock operates based on the principle of communicating vessels, adjusting the water level step by step, allowing ships to "climb stairs" and overcome water level differences. Once a ship enters the lock chamber, the gate closes, and the water level is adjusted through the filling and emptying system, enabling the ship to rise or descend smoothly.

Downstream (from Chongqing to Nanjing/Shanghai): The process begins with the fifth gate opening to release water until it reaches the same level as the fourth gate. Once the levels are equal, the fourth gate opens, allowing the ship to move forward. This process is repeated for each subsequent gate until the vessel passes through the entire system.

Upstream (from Shanghai/Nanjing to Chongqing): The ship first enters the initial gate, where water is stored until it reaches the level of the second gate. Once equalized, the second gate opens, and the ship advances. This step-by-step procedure continues until the vessel successfully navigates through all the gates.

Navigating through the Three Gorges Dam Ship Locks on a cruise ship offers a truly distinctive experience. Passengers can closely observe the remarkable engineering feat and appreciate its scale and sophistication. The process of the ship moving up or down through the locks feels akin to an “aquatic lift,” giving travelers a tangible sense of the dramatic water level changes. The optimal viewing spots are the cabin windows or the ship’s deck, from where visitors can take in the full view of the locks and the stunning landscapes along the riverbanks. Moreover, the summer and autumn seasons are ideal for this journey, as the weather is pleasant and the water levels are stable, ensuring a more enjoyable and comfortable passage through the locks.

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