Potential Discoveries

 The Three Gorges area is associated with a long human history. Due to the large scale construction of the TGP, it is quite possible that potential unknown relics or heritage may be unearthed, perhaps some unexpected discoveries of archaeology will be revealed during the construction period of the dam, resettlement and clearing of the reservoir bottom.

Unaffected Areas

 Many noted historic relics and cultural heritage in the Three Gorges region, such as Huangling Temple, Sanyou Cave, Lu You Fountain,the ancient battlefield in Yiling, Qu Yuan's Memory House and the Wang Zhaojun's Native Place, etc., will not be affected by the inundation because they are located above the inundation line or downstream of the dam site. On the contrary, the construction of the Project will benefit the exploitation of these scenery resources.

The Chinese government has long realized the importance of protecting the heritage and relics. Series of related policies, laws and regulations have been implemented. Since 1958, CWRC assisted with other concerned institutions, jointly established a special archaeological team to conduct the general survey on the historic heritage and cultural relics. In 1980, a survey on the relics with elevation below 200 m in this reservoir region was successively conducted in every county in the region. Some important historic heritage and cultural relics were excavated. Since the commencement of the TGP, CTGPC set up "the Environment and Cultural Relics Protection Committee". A special fund was allocated to assist the survey and archaeological studies to speed up the excavation of the heritage and relics. Remedial measures,such as reconstruction, reproducing, photographing and replica were taken for preservation of the valuable relics. By 1987, CWRC and other associated departments completed a program for removing and reconstructing the relics and heritage in the reservoir region. Under the provision of the program, Zhang Fei's Temple is being relocated to a new place along with the construction of new county site.

It has been suggested that the new place should possess a condition of favorable environment and convenient communication, and it should be rebuilt in accordance with its original architectural style and features. The Watchtowers made of carved stones in Han Dynasty, including the twin watchtowers in Dingfang and the watchtower without inscription in Ganjinggou are planned to be moved into a new scenic spot. The twelve-storied Shibaozhai Stockade Tower is going to be protected by embankment from possible effects on the bottom caused by underground water level rising and wave surge. Similar scheme will also be applied to the Memorial House of Qu Yuan. The Iron Pillar for River Locking and the Ancient Bridge in Linshi can be preserved and rebuilt in other places. The inscription of Kongming Monument and the Powder Wall will be redone by rubbings and taking photographs on suitable precipice of cliff. However, it is rather a difficult issue to handle the famous low water inscription of Baiheliang. It has been suggested to cut and take it off from the rock and keep its original status and then rehabilitate in the museum. However, this will lose its original sense of carving rock to record the low water. It is also suggested that a special under-water museum in the Yangtze could be set up to keep this unique inscriptions, but it will be rather costly.

And,why it is said that many new scenery spots will appear after the formation of the TGP reservoir? The Three Gorges area is full of various types of gorges and canyons. Once it is inundated, a broad water surface will form and a flat lake will appear in the deep gorges.As the result, the original dangerous waterway will turn into a freeway. The original natural landscapes with dangerous shoals and rapids in the Gorges will be lost, but new beautiful sceneries with lakes, mountains and myriad surges will emerge and become new landscape. In addition, travelers on the waterway will be worry-free about the danger caused by the menacing rapids and shoals. Instead, they will enjoy the new charming scenery.

In the gorge section, the water width is only slightly increased after the reservoir formation, and the scenery of the mountain cliffs standing facing each other and surrounded by hills will remain. Traveling on the Gorge's reach, you will still be able to experience the phenomenon as the mountain cliffs appear at first moment and disappear moment later over the meandering reach of the river and, in the next turning, suddenly see the bright and open sky in front of you again.

There are many famous small tributaries of the Yangtze in the Three Gorges region, such as Xiangxi river,Daning river, Daxi and Caotang rivers and so on. On both sides of those tributaries, the mountain peaks stand closely to each other to form deep and steep valleys. The grotesque caves and rocks form many pictures in unique nature. Up to now, many of those beautiful scenic places are still hidden in the deep valley of the tributary's gorges and remain unknown to the public due to the inconvenient access. After the reservoir impoundment, however, the water of the reservoir will further extend into the tributaries, which will greatly benefit the exploitation of such resources in the tributary areas. Tourists can reach these scenery spots by boat to enjoy the hidden beauty of the nature. Many natural scenery spots can be found in the region, such as Shennong Stream and the Rock Forest in Gezi river valley in Badong County, Daning River in Wushan County and the Alpine Grassland of Hongchiba in Wuxi, as well as the natural corroded cave museum of Furong River in Fuling City. Furthermore, the native place of Qu Yuan, a famous poet during the period of the Warring States, and Wang Zhaojun, a famous beauty in Chinese history and female scholar in Western Han Cynasty were all originated from this region.

The submerged land area by the Three Gorges reservoir will reach more than 600 km². In the affected regions, people will have to be relocated, villages, towns, farmland, tourism resources, communication lines and roads will all be rebuilt in new places according to an unified planning. Once the planning is fully implemented, the reservoir region will take on a new look in many aspects. Because the reservoir region has beneficial moisture and heat condition, the evergreens, citrus, tangerines and bamboo forests can be planted and easily developed in the region. Thus, fine sceneries full of green and luxuriancy all the year around will be formed on both sides of the reservoir with the nice and unique scenery of the Three Gorges.

It should be mentioned that after completion, the Three Gorges dam itself will be one of the great wonders in the world,too. The lofty dam will cut off the clouds and rains above Wushan Mountain. The water flow released from the dam spillways will form a huge magnificent artificial waterfall. The giant ship-lock can allow a 10,000-ton towboat to pass through. The high steel towers for power transmission will stand erect like a forest and reach to the sky. The high scientific and technology make the Three Gorges Project become a big miracle in the Three Gorges region to attract worldwide attention.