Day 18

Identical to the day before, we have to wake up very early for our breakfast. After the breakfast, we went back to pack our luggage as we are going to leave the cruise as we reached the port in YiChang. While we were asleep, the ship had already navigated it way through the numerous gate of the three gorges dam, as well the one in the Gezhouba dam. We board our tour bus and back to the Shan Xia Zhuan Yong Gong Lu to get to the tourist area of the three gorges dam. At the site, we saw the model of the three gorges dam, as well as understanding the electrical generating ability of the dam. During the ride, the tour guide also told us the history behind the building of the dam. Next we get to see the dam close up at a place near the dam. Viewing the dam close-up is superb as I have never imagined I am able to see such mega and engineering feat with my own eyes. After leaving the attraction, the tour bus stopped at the local restaurant in YiChang for our lunch after which we were on the long journey back to Wuhan.

model of the dam

Group photos

My Reflection

After the whole cruise trip which allows me to understand Three Gorges dam much more in depth, I am still containing a rather negative attitude towards it. Firstly, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam leads to the extinction of many animal species such as the Yangtze river dolphins and the critically endangering the Siberian Cranes. All these are caused by the heavy pollutions in Yangtze River and from my research; I had found out that over one billion tons of wastewater are released annually into the river itself. In reality, the pollution rating will significantly increase over the years and with the current amount of pollution that Yangtze river is containing, there is an estimated cost of 2.8 billion Yuan to clean the river. It is both a waste of manpower as well as country monetary asset resources. Secondly, the 600 kilometres long reservoir has flooded some 1,300 archaeological sites and will alter the appearance of the Three Gorges as the water level rises over 100 metres at various locations. These flooding will undoubtedly cover some undiscovered relics which is a waste as these undiscovered relics might expose secrets from the past. And all of these destructions were caused by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. For me, I am a person who does not believe in hurting something in order to gain a benefit. The privilege has to be earned, and not just by destroying the past in order to obtain it.