China is building a giant water project to expand navigability along the Yangtze River. The aim of this ‘golden waterway’ is to ensure the smooth commercial flow of goods on one of the world’s busiest inland waterways, while upgrading the country’s internal transport connectivity.
The Yangtze is China’s longest river and is a vital transportation artery connecting mainland China with its coastal regions.
The Three Gorges Dam at its limits
The Three Gorges Dam is a hub and main outlet for commercial ships moving along the river. However, for years, skyrocketing freight volumes have been straining existing facilities, forcing them to operate beyond their original design specifications.
Mammoth investment for decades to come
The project has a budget of 77.2 billion yuan (about 9.87 billion euros). The technical upgrade of the construction began on June 8, with the aim of removing the construction restrictions that currently burden the use of the dam.
In this way, the infrastructure will be able to serve the growing demand for freight transport for decades to come. These figures were presented by officials and experts at the recent episode of the Economic Roundtable on China, hosted by China’s Xinhua News Agency.
China’s Three Gorges new waterway project has broken ground, aiming to expand shipping capacity along the Yangtze River, one of the world’s busiest inland waterways.
At #ChinaEconomicRoundtable, experts share their views on greener transport, engineering innovation, job creation… pic.twitter.com/9XYZwztZtD— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 13, 2026
Source: RES – BEE