China has started construction of the world's largest river lock.

China has launched one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in recent years.

The project, valued at 77.2 billion yuan (approximately 11.3 billion US dollars), was officially launched on June 8 in the city of Yichang, Hubei Province. Construction was inaugurated by Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Ding Xuexiang.

The Gist

• China has begun construction of a new waterway on the Yangtze River.
• The project cost is 77.2 billion yuan.
• Upon completion, the throughput capacity of the Three Gorges Dam complex will nearly double.
• The new lock will become the largest inland navigation structure in the world.

Why China Needed a New Lock

The Yangtze River is considered China's main transportation artery. Stretching over 6,300 kilometers, the river connects the country's interior regions with the eastern coast and major seaports. A significant portion of cargo transportation between industrial centers and export terminals passes through it.

However, the existing lock at the Three Gorges Dam has long been operating at its limit. Its designed annual throughput capacity was 100 million tons of cargo, but this figure was exceeded as early as 2011. In 2025, the volume of traffic through the facility surpassed 170 million tons.

What Will Be Built on the Yangtze

The project involves the construction of a new five-step, twin-lane lock north of the existing Three Gorges complex. Navigation facilities at the downstream dam will also be modernized.

Upon completion, the complex's throughput capacity will increase to 336 million tons of cargo annually, nearly double the current figures. According to Chinese engineers' estimates, the facility will set several world records for lock chamber dimensions, navigation parameters, and earthwork volumes.

Construction Planned for Nearly a Decade

The total length of the new lock and approach channels will be approximately 6,680 meters. Construction of the main facility will take over nine years, while the modernization of the downstream dam is estimated to take about eight years.

Designers state that environmental requirements were taken into account during development. The project includes special fish passage facilities, and some engineering solutions were modified to protect the spawning grounds of the Chinese sturgeon. According to the China Three Gorges Corporation, these changes increased the project cost by approximately 2 billion yuan.

Why the Project is Important for China's Economy

The new waterway is the first major infrastructure project to begin construction under China's 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030. Authorities view it as a key element in the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt — a region accounting for nearly half of the country's GDP and a significant portion of its foreign trade.

Expanding navigational capacity is expected to reduce logistics costs, alleviate pressure on existing infrastructure, and improve connectivity between China's interior regions and global markets.

Author's Conclusion

The construction of the new lock on the Yangtze River demonstrates that China continues to bet on large-scale infrastructure as a tool for economic growth. The project, costing over 11 billion US dollars, aims not only to increase cargo flow but also to strengthen the role of inland waterways in national logistics. Amid growing trade volumes, Beijing is effectively preparing the country's transport system for the needs of the coming decades.