On 8/6, China broke ground on a new waterway project at the Three Gorges project cluster on the Yangtze River. With a total investment of approximately 77,2 billion yuan (about 11,3 billion USD), the project aims to meet the growing transportation demand on the nation's most important inland waterway, according to Xinhua.

Chinese state media described this as the first 'national key mega project' to commence under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). This period is considered crucial for achieving the basic goal of socialist modernization by 2035.

Construction site in Hubei province for the new waterway project of the Three Gorges system on 8/6. *Photo: Xinhua*

The project comprises two main components. At the Three Gorges Dam, a new ship lock will be constructed north of the existing system. Designed for ships up to 10,000 tons, the structure will include two five-stage ship locks, along with upstream and downstream guide channels, totaling approximately 6.680 m in length.

According to the design, each ship lock line will feature 5 lock chambers and 6 lock heads. Each chamber will be 280 m long and 40 m wide at the bottom. Chinese officials stated that this will be the world's largest inland ship lock upon completion.

The second component will be implemented at the Gezhouba Dam downstream. Authorities will demolish the current ship lock number 3 to build two one-stage ship locks. Upstream and downstream guide channels will also be widened and deepened to increase navigation capacity.

Chinese officials reported that the new mega project was launched after over a decade of feasibility studies and design work, coupled with decades of technological preparation.

The need to expand transport capacity stems from the rapid increase in cargo traffic through the Three Gorges area. The section of the Yangtze River from Yichang city in Hubei province to Chongqing has seen a sharp rise in transported goods over many years.

Yangtze River basin and the location of the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei province. *Graphic: SCMP*

Engineers initially designed the Three Gorges system to handle approximately 100 million tons of cargo annually, but it reached this level 19 years ahead of schedule. In 2025, total cargo traffic through the Three Gorges Dam reached 173 million tons, far exceeding its design capacity.

Upon completion, the Three Gorges complex will feature 4 ship lock lines and a ship lift, with a total annual navigation capacity of 336 million tons. Meanwhile, the Gezhouba Dam will operate four ship lock lines with a total capacity of 360 million tons per year.

Chinese officials anticipate that the project will double the Three Gorges hub's transport capacity, thereby significantly improving shipping efficiency on the Yangtze River. The Yangtze is the nation's 'golden waterway', spanning over 6.300 km.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt spans 11 provincial-level administrative regions, from the inland west to the eastern coastal areas, contributing nearly half of China's GDP and foreign trade volume.

Thanh Danh (According to Xinhua, Hubei Daily, Global Times)