The Three Gorges

cctv.com 02-04-2004 11:38

After the retention of water reached 137 meters several months ago, the Three Gorges Project is once again drawing great attention both at home and abroad. What is the Three Gorges project really bringing to the business world, with the improvements of the shipping conditions along the river?

The world largest hydroelectric dam,the Three Gorges project in southwest China, is now coming to its conclusion. Launched in 1993, and with a total investment of over 24 billion US dollars, the Three Gorges is attracting attention in many circles. There have been changes not only in the environment and natural resources of the mid-upper reaches of Yangtze River, but more importantly, a new economic potential is emerging along the Yangtze River. Let's find out in detail.

Several years ago, Luo Min was an ordinary rural labourer, with an annual income of less than 400 US dollars. But now he is running a small restaurant that looks over Three Gorges area, and his annual income has increased six-fold, beyond what he ever dared to imagine. Luo Min is not a unique example of someone gaining wealth in this area: the life of the local people has been greatly changed by the Three Gorges Project, and this remote and closed village has now become very open to the outside world.

Chief Editor of Economic Daily Feng Bing said, "Before we focused on the Three Gorges project itself or tourism. However there are, in fact, a lot more significant things lying behind the project: for example, what is the profitability of the Three Gorges, in other words, how big the cake is, how big it is now, and how big it will be in the future, and how to increase the profitability of the Three Gorges through our efforts."

Situated in the hinterland of the Three Gorges area, Wanzhou used to be a very remote place, but since the construction of this great project, Wanzhou has become the heartland of the Three Gorges economic zone, which is why the New Three Gorges International Fortune Forum was held here. The extended economic opportunities of New Three Gorges are well in evidence here. Transportation is one of the businesses that have experienced the biggest changes.

Vice Manager of Wanzhou Port (Group) Co., LTD Wang Yi said, "This used to be a deserted place before the construction of the Hongxigou port. The length of the river was only 150 meters, and its depth was 15 meters. After the completion of this port, the water retention has greatly improved the river-route, while the water flow has been slowed down; the length of river has been widened by more than 500 meters, and its depth is now about 30 meters. Ships of a tonnage of tens-of-thousands of tons are able to dock here."

Such containers used to be rare in Wanzhou, due to the limitations of its shipping conditions, however since the water retention there are now three container ports in Wanzhou busily handling goods all day long. Hongxigou, one of the biggest port enterprises in Wanzhou, now handles goods of a volume of more than five million tons.

Secretary of Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipal Government Ma Zhengqi said, "Fundamental changes have taken place in shipping conditions here: as of now, ships of a tonnage of tens-of-thousands of tons are able to get though all year round, whereas in the past it was only possible for ships of below two to three thousand tons. The port has changed a lot, the shipping volume has increased five-fold, and costs have been cut by more than one third."

Improvements in transportation here have not only greatly facilitated the logistics in the areas along the Three Gorges project, but at the same time the lower cost of shipping has provided enterprises with a better investment environment. Many big factories here have conspicuously felt this change, especially in recent years.

Lin Wenhao, GM of Aton Plastics (Chongqing) Co., LTD., said, "For us, particularly the transportation costs are much lower if we use shipping, because its cost is very low, and it allows transportation of large amounts of goods."

Ming Fangcheng, President of Huiyuan (Wanzhou) Co., LTD., said, "Since the water retention, first, it'll be a better place for orange growing; second, the transportation fees will be greatly reduced. According to our research, fees will be reduced by one-third. For our factory, we need to send hundreds of thousands of tons of fruit or fruit juice to Shanghai and other cities all around the world, so it's a great expense."

Since the water retention, the overall transportation network has been enhanced, and large cargo ships are no longer rare on this river, and furthermore, passenger ships like this are also busily shunting along the river, bringing more visitors. So apart from transportation, tourism has been another major beneficiary of this project.

Wu Zhenglong said, "After the water retention of the Three Gorges, there have been two types of economic development, one of which is tourism. The new Three Gorges has produced new scenery, and this new scenery has attracted new visitors. An airport has now been opened in Wanzhou, and a highway to Chongqing will be completed by the end of this year."

Apart from the convenience of transportation, the water retention has also formed many new lakes and small rivers along the Yangtze River. Thus much new scenery has emerged, attracting many new visitors.

Tao Yong, head of Bureau of Tourism, Wanzhong District, said, "Due to limitations of navigation, a lot of scenery in the branches along the river was unknown. Now with the increase of the water level, and the appearance of lakes alongside the river, this scenery is coming right in front of our eyes. It should be a very good change."

Qinglong Fall is one of the scenes that came into being after the Three Gorges Project. With a first-phase investment of 3 million US dollars in 2001, Qinglong Fall received only 30 thousand visitors last year, but the number is expected to surge threefold this year.

He Shuncai, manager of Qinglong Fall Tourism Development Company, said, "Some of the old scenery of the Three Gorges has been submerged, but more new scenes like our Qinglong Fall have been newly developed. And with the formation of the reservoir economy, we will have more lakes in Wanzhou, which will be a greater attraction for visitors."

Visiting scenery is of course the most direct manifestation of improvements in local tourism, but what��s more significant is the indirect business related to tourism around this area, namely, souvenirs, catering and accommodation.

Luo Min, manager of Zhengyuan Restaurant 3729-50, said, "To run a restaurant is one way to get wealthy, I think the first advantage is that, it is better than working as a rural labourer, it's all spare money. Secondly, it's been three years since the opening of my restaurant in 2000, and I get a continuous stream of customers everyday."

He Shuncai, manager of Qinglong Fall Tourism Development Company, said, "We also need to improve the auxiliary establishment, including catering, entertainment, souvenir vending and accommodation. Besides, as for tourism reception, we need to enhance connections with travel agencies for the sake of Wanzhou's tourism development, and to increase the flow of passengers here."

Logistics, tourism, and tourism-related business are only some examples of the many new businesses in Wanzhou, and other places like Wanzhou along the Yangtze. Now more and more of them are open to the outside, and trying hard to improve their investment environment, attracting more and more investors.

Ron Nechemia, President of EurOrient Financial Group, said, "There are companies that concern about making profit by selling services to the three gorges. For example, companies interested in selling�� Chinese companies to participate in the constructions, so there are many economic opportunities that people have already take advantages for the past ten years or more on the project engineering construction, procurement, many consulting firms and so on so forth."

With a convenient transportation network, lower costs, and many new opportunities emerging, the antennae of the new economy along Yangtze River since the completion of the Three Gorges Project are extending into every aspect of the economy, and the riverbank area is no doubt becoming the most attractive place for investors. It's for sure that this river has brought the riverbank areas firm expectation of a business revival.

The Three Gorges project is the world's largest water conservancy project and is making the dream of generations come true. With the great improvements in shipping conditions on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and other transportation conditions in the river area, the economic environment has been improved and a potential for economic development is revealed which will surely bring profits to the people along the Three Gorges area.

Editor:Zhang Wenjie  Source:CCTV.com