Three Gorges Dam: Engineering Visit and Yichang Planning
Visit the Three Gorges Dam from Yichang: 2,309 m of engineering, real-name reservations, foreign visitors at the ticket window and the vehicle pass.
Photo: 高 长华 / Pexels
Contents
The Three Gorges Dam stands near Yichang in Hubei and is an engineering destination in its own right, not a substitute for a cruise through the gorges upstream. The dam is 2,309 metres long and 185 metres high, with five-tier ship locks and 34 generators.[1] You come to stand beside one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the world and to see how it works.
Choose the kind of Yangtze visit you want
| Choice | Main purpose | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Dam visit | Understand the scale of the water-control and power project | Viewing areas, the memorial park and the museum hall, with a return to Yichang the same day |
| Gorge cruise | See the river landscape from the water | The named gorge sections and stops of the cruise itinerary |
For the dam itself, plan a visit that is built around the dam area. For river scenery, pick a cruise itinerary that names the gorge sections and stops you want.
Things to Do
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The visitor areas
The tourist area opened in 1997 and became a national 5A scenic area in 2007. It covers 15.28 square kilometres and includes the Tanzi Ridge park, the 185 park and the River Closure Memorial Park (截流纪念园).[2]
Reserve and enter
Entry is by real-name reservation. Individual visitors reserve through the WeChat service account 三峡大坝旅游 (Three Gorges Dam Tourism) and prepay the transport fee. Entering the area means a security check with the ID of the person who made the reservation. Foreign visitors and minors without an ID card reserve in person at the ticket window with a valid document, so bring your passport.[3]
Every vehicle that enters the dam area needs a vehicle pass under the regulations for protecting the Yangtze Three Gorges project. You apply online through the WeChat account or the mini-program “坝区车辆通行预约系统”, or offline and free of charge at the checkpoints with your driving licence, vehicle licence and electronic insurance policy: the Yemingzhu triangle reception station and the Fengjiawan checkpoint on the Yichang side.[3] If you travel by taxi or a private transfer, ask the driver who arranges the pass.
The operator announces the opening hours for each holiday period. Over the 2026 Spring Festival the area opened from 08:30 to 16:30, and the Yemingzhu reception station took visitors from 08:00 to 15:30.[3] Allow a full morning or afternoon on site, and plan your return to Yichang before the close.
For the wider route, continue with our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] The State Council of the People’s Republic of China, reproducing Xinhua: Three Gorges Dam ship locks log record monthly cargo throughput. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] Hubei Provincial People’s Government portal: 宜昌三峡大坝旅游区. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [3] Yangtze Three Gorges Tourism Development Co., Ltd., republished via Hubei Daily: 三峡大坝旅游区2026年春节游客参观接待公告. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The dam is an engineering project with five-tier ship locks. The gorge scenery lies upstream, so pick a cruise itinerary that names the gorge sections and stops you want.
The dam is 2,309 metres long and 185 metres high, with five-tier ship locks and 34 generators.
The tourist area covers 15.28 square kilometres with the Tanzi Ridge park, the 185 park and the River Closure Memorial Park.
Yes, if you reserve first. Book the real-name reservation on the WeChat service account 三峡大坝旅游 and prepay the transport fee; foreign visitors reserve at the ticket window with their passport. Go through the security check with the ID used to book and allow a full morning or afternoon on site. If you come by taxi or private transfer, ask the driver who arranges the vehicle pass, and plan your return to Yichang before the area closes.
Foreign visitors reserve in person at the ticket window with a valid passport. Individual visitors with an ID card reserve through the WeChat service account 三峡大坝旅游.
Check the itinerary for the specific gorge sections and stops, and for whether the dam is part of it.
It suits you if you want to see large-scale infrastructure. If you mainly want river scenery, choose a cruise through the gorges.
