Day 11, 12, 13: Gorgeous 3 Gorges

Finally back after 3 days spent on a cruise to see the 3 Gorges.

The cool weather, beautiful scenery and good food provided on board certainly gave us a good chance to rest ourselves.

my room, room 4115

The cool weather certainly made it even better for us Singaporeans, used to daily hot and humid weather. But the most unique part must have been the experience of the ship locks, which my classmates and I have learned as part of our Maritime Management module, so we had to take on the role of tour guides and explain to others who had not learned it yet.the lowest level of the ship lock at the 3 Gorges Dam going up from downstream, total duration for all 5 levels is 4 hours +

We also visited many scenic spots along the Yangtze river, such as the Shen Nong Stream which is the home of the hanging coffins and the ethnic Tujia people.
beautiful mountain range with mist and low clouds because it was raining
We also visited the 3 Gorges Dam proper this morning to take a look at the various memorials and scenic spots to take pictures and see the Dam with.

the 3 gorges dam - view from upstream at the 185 platform in the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area

Reflection:
It cannot be denied that the 3 Gorges dam is a sight to behold, and the increased water level caused by the flooding of the river behind the dam has made it easier to tour and see the mountain ranges and made river transport and trade easier with the ship locks, there is a huge price to pay.
1.3 billion people and villages had to relocate because they were going to be flooded, and some old people, according to our tour guide, refused to relocate from their village and took suicide. The completion of the dam and flooding of the area has also seen an increased rate of landslides in the area, and many cultural and historical landmarks are likely to be forever lost. Furthermore, the increased water level, from about 70meters to around 170 meters has made the mountain tops become nearer, and original natural landmarks such as the vertical limestone gorges of Shen Nong Stream will almost be totally submerged.
Even in Singapore, we must also always consider the ecological, environmental, societal and other costs development projects require, in order to achieve sustainable development. Without it, the future generations will not have confidence in Singapore's ability to progress further, as we are already resource-scarce. Thus, it is very important to consider the many aspects and hidden costs of development projects, because even the Three Gorges Dam Project took more than 50% of their budget to pay for relocation and resettlement of people and villages affected by the flooding and building of the dam.