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| The Three Gorges Dam |
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| Lift from jetty to port |
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| The Lock |
With luggage out by 6.30am, breakfast over by 7.30am we were
ready to leave the ship to visit the site of Three Gorges dam. We were currently in the middle of a short
Chinese holiday and after the rains of yesterday the place was absolutely
heaving. We have still not got used to
the number of people in China. We were
given so many facts and figures about the Dam that it is impossible to remember
them all. There are 32 electricity generating turbines although the maximum
number can only be used for a few months of the year when water levels allow
this. The dam, despite its colossal size only generates 2% of China’s
electricity. The majority still comes from coal powered stations with some
nuclear and alternative technologies.
I think that the figure of 2% generated
from this dam is more of an illustration of the need within China for
electricity rather than any limitations of the dam.
As I said yesterday one of the way reasons
for the creation of the dam was to improve navigation. The Yangtze as the third
largest river in the world is a major route for transportation of all sorts of things.
At one edge of the dam is a huge ships lock that takes multiple ships up to the
higher levels. Using the old lock system this transfer used to take 3.5 hours
but now it can be traversed in minutes.
We were allowed plenty of time to view this impressive sight
which is now a major tourist attraction raising funds in addition to the taxes
that are imposed for the building of this facility.
Leaving the dam we transferred to a different coach where
another local guide Gary gave us more information on the negative effects of
the dam but even he had to admit to the better accommodation that local people
had received moving from homes of less than 40 square metres without bathrooms
etc to those of 100 m2.
Gary took us to a hotel where we went upstairs to private
dining rooms for a quick lunch. It was a shame we has such little time as the
food and facilities were excellent. But we had a bullet train to catch.
There are many things in China that astonish you and the
rail system for the bullet train is one of them.
In a fairly mediocre town we were taken to the railway station. It was
huge. A modern building hosting over 12 platforms with bullet trains waiting to
take you far and wide.
Our trip to
Shanghai was going to be over 9 hours and Mike was very excited about it. We
had originally been going to fly to Shanghai but changes to flight times would
have meant we were going to be stranded for a few hours in a small town with nothing to do and so the decision
was made to use the train.
This was a great
idea because as we tore across the country we were able to see the changes in
the landscapes, local farmers working in the fields and so much more.
We eventually arrived in Shanghai around 9.30pm where we
were met by our last local guide Helen.
Helen escorted us through the huge Shaghai train station to the coach
which then took 40 minutes to reach the hotel.
It was still Chinese holiday time so even at this time the roads were
busy but Helen used this time usefully giving us the backround of people living
in Shanghai. We had to drive through the Bund to reach our hotel and whilst it
was too late to see most of the skyscrapers lit up it was enough to appreciate
the cityscape that we would be able to
tomorrow. To top this wonderful day we were then told we had all been
upgraded to business class rooms so we were all able to relax slightly in
luxury before falling asleep.
view
I think that the figure of 2% generated
from this dam is more of an illustration of the need within China for
electricity rather than any limitations of the dam. As I said yesterday one of the way reasons
for the creation of the dam was to improve navigation. The Yangtze as the third
largest river in the world is a major route for transportation of all sorts of things.
At one edge of the dam is a huge ships lock that takes multiple ships up to the
higher levels. Using the old lock system this transfer used to take 3.5 hours
but now it can be traversed in minutes.
Leaving the dam we transferred to a different coach where
another local guide Gary gave us more information on the negative effects of
the dam but even he had to admit to the better accommodation that local people
had received moving from homes of less than 40 square metres without bathrooms
etc to those of 100 m2. 
Gary took us to a hotel where we went upstairs to private
dining rooms for a quick lunch. It was a shame we has such little time as the
food and facilities were excellent. But we had a bullet train to catch.
There are many things in China that astonish you and the
rail system for the bullet train is one of them.
In a fairly mediocre town we were taken to the railway station. It was
huge. A modern building hosting over 12 platforms with bullet trains waiting to
take you far and wide. Our trip to
Shanghai was going to be over 9 hours and Mike was very excited about it. We
had originally been going to fly to Shanghai but changes to flight times would
have meant we were going to be stranded for a few hours in a small town with nothing to do and so the decision
was made to use the train. 
We eventually arrived in Shanghai around 9.30pm where we
were met by our last local guide Helen.
Helen escorted us through the huge Shaghai train station to the coach
which then took 40 minutes to reach the hotel.
It was still Chinese holiday time so even at this time the roads were
busy but Helen used this time usefully giving us the backround of people living
in Shanghai. We had to drive through the Bund to reach our hotel and whilst it
was too late to see most of the skyscrapers lit up it was enough to appreciate
the cityscape that we would be able to
tomorrow. To top this wonderful day we were then told we had all been
upgraded to business class rooms so we were all able to relax slightly in
luxury before falling asleep. 
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