Yangtze River Cruise News
Three Gorges Dam to open to visitors
Three Gorges Dam, on the Yangtze River, will open to visitors from July 1. During the three months of trial opening, the number of visitors will be limited to 1,000 a day and the opening time is from 8:30am to 16:00pm. The fare is 68 yuan per visitor. It will be closed to visitors after September 31 for hydropower generator inspections and the third-phase construction of the dam, one of the largest hydropower projects in the world.
Visitors will get this splendid view -- water discharged the Three Gorges Dam -- when it is open to visitors from July 1.
Eco-Concern Over Yangtze
Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005 -- It is critical to control soil erosion and improve the ecosystem along the Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway, said an adviser to the central government yesterday.
"It's a long-term objective in China's modernization drive to preserve the Yangtze ecosystem and curb pollution along its drainage," said Chen Zongxing, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.
At least 660,000 square kilometers or 36.7 percent of the Yangtze River drainage area suffers soil erosion, said Chen, also vice president of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.
"In 2003, an average of 30,000 tons of sewage was poured into the river every minute," Chen said, citing the result of a survey his party conducted together with the CPPCC Committee of Population, Resources and Environment last year.
Ecological deterioration has endangered many aquatic animals, including Chinese sturgeons and white-flag dolphins - the world's rarest dolphin - according to the survey.
Chen proposed a national committee be established and dedicated to the preservation of the Yangtze's ecology. He also wants a special law on ecological conservation be formulated so that environmental protection departments have more power to enforce the law.
Local governments and businesses in the Yangtze Delta should seek sustainable development, improve cost-effectiveness and minimize pollution," he said, adding it's also important to step up technological innovation and translate more research findings into ecological conservation work. He also suggested the government increase investment in Yangtze River ecological conservation.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Three Gorges Dam site to open to tourists
BEIJING Feb. 23 -- The central part of China's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is expected to open to tourists later this year. Visitors will be able to access the highest point to get a close look at the pioneering project.
The Three Gorges Dam, which is 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, should be completed by the end of 2007.
Work has been divided, with construction starting from the left and right banks of the river. The left side, more than 1,600 meters long, is already finished.
About a dozen tourist spots, including a square and wall have been set up inside a park, celebrating the damming of the Yangtze River.
Sources say more than 800,000 sightseers visited the Three Gorges Dam area in 2004 generating 130 million yuan or US$15.6 million.
--- Source: CCTV.com
