Danjiangkou Reservoir Scenic Area

Danjiangkou Reservoir Scenic Area

Danjiangkou Reservoir Scenic Area is a national scenic area, a national AAA-level tourist attraction, and a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Danjiang Dam is situated in the urban area of Danjiangkou City, 800 meters downstream from the confluence of the Han River and its tributary, the Dan River. The hydraulic structures of the project include a concrete dam, power station buildings, a ship lift system, and two water diversion channels 30 kilometers upstream. It is a large-scale comprehensive water conservancy hub project, primarily for flood control, and also serving functions such as power generation, irrigation, navigation, and aquaculture. It was independently designed, constructed, and managed by China after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Danjiangkou Dam Tourist Area

Danjiang Dam

It is not only a key project for harnessing the Han River and developing its resources but also the optimal water source project for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The water-retaining structure, the Danjiang Dam, has a total length of 2.5 kilometers, with a maximum dam height of 97 meters and a crest elevation of 162 meters. It houses six generating units with a total installed capacity of 900,000 kilowatts and an average annual power generation of 3.83 billion kWh. Now, with the imminent South-to-North Water Diversion Project, Danjiangkou Reservoir will become the water source for the middle route. At that time, the dam crest height will be increased to 175 meters. Once the project is completed, it will divert an average of 14.5 billion cubic meters of water annually in the near term, and up to 23 billion cubic meters in the long term. From atop the dam, one can overlook the city of Danjiangkou, with its dense clusters of buildings, green mountains, clear waters, and traditional white-walled, black-tiled houses all in view. Gazing into the distance, the silhouette of Wudang Mountain can be faintly seen; looking back, the majestic dam spans the Han River, creating a vibrant and colorful scene — making it a great destination for tourism and sightseeing.

Danjiang Dam

Danjiang Dam

Since the official commencement of the Danjiangkou Dam Heightening Project on September 26, 2005, all participating units have meticulously organized and worked overtime in accordance with the adjusted construction schedule. They have overcome adverse factors such as floods exceeding a 20-year return period, excessive rainfall, and the interference between construction and operational management. During the “first dry season,” the amount of concrete poured has exceeded the planned target, reaching 247,000 m³, with the peak intensity of concrete pouring surpassing the levels determined in the preliminary design and tender documents. All main dam sections have met the required flood-season elevation and have been freed from constraints at the foundation level.

Danjiang Dam

Danjiang Dam

Due to high summer temperatures, according to the overall construction plan, the placement of slope-attaching concrete on the main dam body has been temporarily suspended. Work will resume during the “second dry season” (October 2006 to April 2007). During the concrete dam’s pouring pause, the focus will shift to the embankment filling of the left and right bank earth-rock dams, while continuing work such as roughening of new and old concrete joints, keyway cutting, concrete demolition, anchor bar installation, and concrete pouring for the downstream retaining walls on both banks. The Danjiangkou Water Control Project will enter its flood season on June 21, and all participating units have made detailed arrangements for flood prevention. Dam construction during the flood season will comply with flood control scheduling.

Danjiangkou Dam Tourist Area

Danjiangkou Dam Tourist Area

Since the start of construction, a total of 196,700 m³ of earth excavation, 203,900 m³ of rock excavation, 176,700 m³ of earth filling, 247,100 m³ of concrete pouring, 16,200 m³ of concrete demolition, 40,000 m² of concrete joint roughening, 4,262.9 m of keyway concrete cutting, 4,805 anchor bars installed, and 6,821 m of crack treatment have been completed.

Danjiangkou Dam Tourist Area

Ticket Information: 65 RMB per person

Contact Number: 0719-5372391

Transportation: Take a bus from Shiyan South Passenger Transport Station to Danjiang, then transfer to a bus and get off at Damfront Park.

Address: Intersection of Yanjiang Avenue and Power Station Road, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan, Hubei

Type: Hydraulic Engineering

Opening Hours:

8:00–18:00

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of National Scenic Areas