Three Gorges Dam-The Biggest Dam in China

The Three Gorges Dam is located in Sandouping Town, Yichang City, Hubei Province. It is 38 kilometers from the Gezhouba Hydropower Project downstream. It is the main project of the Three Gorges Hydropower Station, the core landscape of the Three Gorges Dam tourist area and the eastern end of the Three Gorges Reservoir.

The Three Gorges Dam project consists of two parts, the main building and diversion project, with a total length of about 3335m and a crest elevation of 185 meters. The total investment of the project is 95.460 billion RMB. Construction was officially started on December 14, 1994 and the whole line was successfully constructed on May 20, 2006.

In 1997, the dam is officially opened to public, which surely was the great news to home and aboard tourists to unveil its spectacular dam structure and the complete history.

Tourists Experience in Three Gorges Dam

1. Appreciate the largest Dam in different angles;
2. Learn the background history of the great dam project;
3. View the flood discharge spectacular view when time’s right;
4. Enjoy the scenic area and landscape around the dam.
5. Try the world largest and most sophisticated ship lift.

Built in 1992, the Gorges Exhibition mainly tells the history of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam by documentary films, pictures and some facilities. Besides, the exhibition has preserved kinds of patterns of the dam in different stages of construction and the sample of Chinese sturgeon. If you are interested about the history of the dam, you can speed more time visit here and get to know the dam more.

Tanzi Ling Park

With 262.48 meters above sea level, Tanzi Ling Park is the first spot opened to tourists in 1997. As the dam construction survey point, it shares the best location to see panoramic views of the Three Gorges project. Here you can not only able to enjoy the powerful& splendid Three Gorges Dam, but also watch the precipice of "Yangtze River gorge IV" Two-way lock (the five stages ship locks), as well as spectacular fountains, beautiful waterfalls, meandering streams, green lawn throughout the meantime.

185 Park Zone

Located in the left side of the top dam road, the 185 Park Zone has the same sea level of the dam, so it was called “185 Park”. Standing at the platform, you can feel the height of the dam and view the surface of water in the impounding reservoir. Looking at the foot of the magnificent, distant and calm river, you will be astonished by the static and dynamic beauty rhyming each other.

Interception Memorial Garden

Situated in the left side of the dam with 800 meters lower, Interception Memorial Park is composed by performances square, display halls, slide shows and more scenic sites. Facing the dam and mountains behind, Memorial Park is the best place to taking photos with the dam, which can’t miss out.

Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, also called Three Gorges Dam Ship Elevator, is one of the most important and complicated navigation facilities of the Three Gorges Project in Yangtze River. The elevator cuts down the time it takes to pass the dam to around 40 minutes compared to the four hours it takes to pass via the Five-stage Ship Lock. Tourists can try ship lift near the 185 park zone and have a better know about the last mystery of Three Gorges Dam Project. More information about ship lift, please visit Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift.

The ship lock, also known as the five-stage ship lock, is the largest navigation facilities in China. It plays an important part on improving the navigation capacity of Yangtze River; the two ship locks installed along the two sides of the dam with a total length of 1607 meters. And each gate of lock is 280 meters long and 34 wide. The Maximum vessel size is 10,000 tons, increased six times and reduced the cost of shipping by 25%. It’s usually takes about 3-4 hours for a ship to pass through the five-level ship lock, for more information about how the ship lock works, please visit The Three Gorges Dam Ship Lock.

Due to the unavailable of passing through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks, Yangtze River cruises (except Yangtze 1) would change their dock ports in Yichang and have some adjustment of the visiting of the Three Gorges Dam site and transportation arrangement. Check the details for upstream and downstream cruises at below.

(PS: Visitors still could appreciate the five stage ship locks at the site and could choose to experience the amazing world largest and most complicated ship lift with the visiting of the dam site)

Best way to visit the Three Gorges Dam is by taking a Yangtze River cruise. All Yangtze cruise companies arranged shore excursions to visit the dam. However if you don’t have enough time to enjoy the splendid view of the Three Gorges but want to visit the dam site. You can take a flight or train to get to Yichang first, and then transfer from Yichang downtown to the Three Gorges Dam Site by car, taxi or bus.

► Learn more about how to get to Yichang, please visit Yichang Transportation Guide in 2025 | How to Get to & around China Yichang.

By Private Car - Most Recommended Way of Travel

The most comfortable and convinient way to get to the dam site from airport, railway station or city center is by booking a private car service in advance.

We www.yangtze-river-cruises.com offers convenient private car service. No matter you are going to travel from Yichang Airport to Yichang downtown for accommodation or to Three Gorges Dam Site for sightseeing, or to Maoping port to catch your cruise ship, we can help you make a travel as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Once you booking such a service, your English-speaking tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport or railway station, with a sign with your name on it holding in his/her hands. Your local driver will escort you directly to your destination in convenient. Along the way, your guide can also give you a brief introduction of Yichang city and share some insider tips. If you need such a service, please feel free to send us your group size, traveling date and time for enquiry.

Top Yichang Hubei Tours:

>> 1 Day Yichang City Short Stay Tour

>> 5 Days Yichang Tour with Yangtze Cruise Experience (Yichang / Yangtze River Cruise)

Three Gorges Dam Site covers a total area of 15.28 square kilometers, therefore tourists are recommended to tour around the site by taking the sightseeing buses. Starting from the Tourist Transfer Center (游客换乘中心), tourists can take sightseeing buses to tour the whole dam site. The price of sightseeing bus is CNY 35 (might be change according to the real situation). The sightseeing bus will take you to 3 scenic spots including Tanzi Ling Park, 185 Park Zone and Memorial Park (Line B cannot reach Memorial Park), and the sightseeing buses run every 20 minutes.

>> Check more photos of Three Gorges Dam

1. Dressing Tips: In summer, the sunlight and heat are quite strong, so you should prepare sunglasses and sunscreen before excurse the dam; see more about Yichang Weather & Season.
2. Flood Discharge: If you want to see the grant sight of flood discharge, you’d better cruise in the rainy season and flood season, which have more chance to meet water release;
3. Sightseeing Car Service in the Park: There is another private operating sightseeing car service in the Three Gorges Dam site scenic spot is charged CNY 10 per person for a section of the route. Round trip charges CNY 20, contain three section of the route. You could take it to save some time for more sightseeing and photographing.