China starts mega waterway project on world's third-longest river

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.

The 77.2-billion-yuan (about 11.3 billion U.S. dollars) project will add a five-tier, dual-track ship lock north of the existing lock at the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest water conservancy project, and upgrade navigation facilities at a smaller downstream dam.

The new ship lock and its approach channels, which together stretch about 6,680 meters, are expected to take over nine years to build, while the downstream dam upgrade is scheduled to be completed in about eight years.

It is the first major project to break ground during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), a critical stage in the country's efforts to advance toward its goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

People overlook the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, June 8, 2026. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the construction site of a new ship lock and its approach channels of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows the upgrading site of navigation facilities at Gezhouba in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. China on Monday began construction of a mega waterway project, including what is expected to become the world's largest inland ship lock, in response to the rising shipping demand along the Yangtze, the world's third-longest river.(Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)