China Launches Biggest Inland Ship Lock Project Ever Built
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China has broken ground on a massive $11.3 billion expansion of the Three Gorges waterway that could transform logistics along the Yangtze River — the country’s economic artery.
A new five-tier, dual-track ship lock will be added at the Three Gorges Dam, designed to handle vessels of up to 10,000 tons.
The project will nearly double annual cargo capacity from current levels, pushing total throughput to 336 million tons per year. Cargo traffic has already overwhelmed the existing system, with freight volumes reaching 173 million tons in 2025.
This mega-infrastructure push strengthens the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which already generates nearly half of China’s GDP, cuts logistics costs, eases supply chain bottlenecks, and boosts connectivity between inland regions and global markets.
The project will nearly double annual cargo capacity from current levels, pushing total throughput to 336 million tons per year. Cargo traffic has already overwhelmed the existing system, with freight volumes reaching 173 million tons in 2025.
This mega-infrastructure push strengthens the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which already generates nearly half of China’s GDP, cuts logistics costs, eases supply chain bottlenecks, and boosts connectivity between inland regions and global markets.
