Three Gorges Dam HistoryⅣ

Three Gorges Dam History – First Put Forward by Sun Yat-sen

When the First World War ended in 1918, Sun Yat-sen wanted to develop Chinese industry with the help of western industry equipments and technologies in the war time. In one of his work, he put forward the idea that to improve the upstream of Yangtze River.

In August 17th, 1924, when he made a lecture in Guangzhou, he mentioned this idea again.

At here, Sun Yat-sen further expounded the rich water power resource in Yangtze River Three Gorges, and he emphasized the importance to develop the water power in Three Gorges. This is the earliest plan about developing Three Gorges water power resource as we have found. It fully showed the great foresight of Sun Yat-sen in National economic development.

Three Gorges Dam History – Cooperation between China and America

In the late of Anti-Japanese War, American government carried out "dollar diplomacy" to monopolize Chinese economic benefits. In April, 1994, the American expert Pan Sui put forward a report to Nationalist Party. This report suggested that to loan 900 millions dollar from American to build a hydro-plant and a chemical fertilizer plant in Three Gorges; then by exporting chemical fertilizer to America to repay the debt.

In May, 1944, American engineer John Lucian Sovage Doctor, who was world famous dam expert, came to China as Chinese government invited. After came to China, he inspected Dadu River, Ming River and Xiling Gorge. Then, he put forward a report in which he suggested to build a generating plant between Nanjing Pass and Shipai. This dam was designed 225 meters high, and owns flood prevention, navigation and irrigation functions together. At that time, this plan was a great pioneering work in hydraulic engineering.

In 1945, Chinese government basically agreed with this Three Gorges plan. Later, every aspect works were carried out by the related departments. In April, 1947, Three Gorges Project design works have to end for the terrible economic situation in China. At that time, Three Gorges Project just a dream for China.

Three Gorges Dam History – Consideration of Chinese Leadership

After the People's Republic of China was set up, with the help and consideration of the Central Committee and the State Council, Three Gorges Project came into large scale investigation, program, design and scientific effort stage.

From the 1950s to now, from Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping and others old revolutionists, to Jiang Zeming, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji and others leaders, all of them ever came to Three Gorges to inspect.

Three Gorges Dam History - Democratic Decision

In the third meeting of seventh National Committee which was held in March, 1985, Three Gorges Project became an important topic, which caused hot discussion. In March, 1989, feasibility report about Three Gorges Project 175 meters plan was passed through. In March 3rd, 1992, the 5th Meeting of the Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress passed through the Three Gorges Project plan, and this committee asked State Department to carry out the plan at appropriate time.