Fengtan Hydropower Plant

　　The Fengtan Hydropower Plant in Hunan Province is one of China’s major hydroelectric power stations. It is situated in Yuanling County along the lower reaches of the You River, a tributary of the Yuan River, and neighbors Guzhang County to the northwest and borders Yongshun County to the northeast.

　　　The plant was designed by the former Changsha Survey and Design Institute of the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power, with the main construction carried out by the Fengtan Hydropower Station Project Command of Hunan Province. Construction began on October 1, 1970, with the first generating unit put into operation on May 1, 1978, and all four units completed and operational by November 1979. The designed total installed capacity is 400,000 kilowatts, with an annual power generation of 2.043 billion kWh. The total reservoir capacity is 1.74 billion cubic meters, classifying it as a seasonal regulation reservoir. In addition to power generation, the plant also serves multiple purposes including flood control, navigation, tourism, and aquaculture.

　　Introduction

　　　　The Fengtan Dam is the tallest concrete hollow gravity arch dam in China (112.5 meters high) and features the longest over-the-dam slide in the country, stretching 1,060 meters. The hollow section of the dam is 40 meters high and 256 meters long, housing four 100,000-kilowatt hydro turbines, four main transformers totaling 720,000 kVA, a 220-kilovolt switchyard, and a 600-ton heavy-duty crane. Six high-voltage transmission lines emerge from within the dam: three 220-kilovolt lines connect to Changde, Yiyang, and Jishou, while three 110-kilovolt lines supply Yuanling, Guzhang, and Zhangjiajie.
　　The construction of the dam created an artificial lake upstream with a storage capacity of 1.39 billion cubic meters. The upper 100 kilometers of the river became navigable deep-water channels, and the lower 45 kilometers also saw improved navigation conditions during the dry season. More significantly, the new waterway transportation led to the development of the previously isolated Mengdonghe River scenic area, which had long been hidden in the deep mountains. This gave rise to a water-land natural tourist scenic zone centered around the “Buyimen” area in Yongshun County upstream of the reservoir, with the Mengdonghe River as its axis, radiating outward. The waterway stretches 175 kilometers, featuring scenery that combines the grandeur of the Three Gorges, the magic of Zhangjiajie, the beauty of the Li River, and the charm of West Lake. With birds singing and monkeys calling year-round, ancient trees towering above, deep caves hiding treasures, and serene valleys, the ever-changing landscape captivates visitors from home and abroad.

　　Fengtan Hydropower Plant Dam in Hunan

　　 Among China’s hydropower plants, I’ve visited the Three Gorges Dam (before it was operational), the Gezhouba Hydropower Plant, the Dongjiang Hydropower Plant in Chenzhou, and the Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station in Huaihua. What left the deepest impression on me were the majestic appearances of the dams. I wasn’t particularly interested in the construction process, internal structures, technical features, or power generation procedures of the power stations. To be honest, with my basic knowledge of physics, I could roughly understand that powerful water flow drives the turbines, converting mechanical energy into electricity. Truthfully, what fascinated me most about visiting hydropower plants was the least technical aspect—watching the water being released through the floodgates. There’s nothing quite like seeing a breathtaking, thunderous waterfall cascading down to feel truly satisfied and deeply moved.

　　 Starting from Yuanling County and driving along the winding mountain roads of the You River valley, a tributary of the Yuan River, for about 45 kilometers upstream brings you to the living quarters of the Fengtan Hydropower Plant. Nowadays, with tourism being a booming industry across China, even this remote hydropower plant in the mountains has become a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national industrial tourism demonstration site. To visit the dam, tourists must first purchase a ticket (50 RMB per person). The plant’s guides (who also serve as tour guides) only hand out safety helmets upon receiving your admission ticket (they can tell if all visitors have exited the plant by counting the returned helmets). Fortunately, my friend’s organization has a friendly relationship with the Fengtan power station, so we were exempt from the entrance fee—I managed to skip the ticket, as expected. Thus, each of us, wearing a safety helmet and looking like important officials inspecting the plant, followed the guide to the top of the dam. Standing at the edge of the dam and looking inward, the Fengtan Reservoir, formed by the damming of the You River, was as clear as a mirror. I felt the water level was quite low, likely to reserve capacity for the spring flood season. According to my companion, the dam is located in Yuanling County, with the left side of the reservoir belonging to Guzhang County and the right side to Yongshun County—hence the saying “one foot in three counties.” Turning around and looking down from the over 100-meter-high dam was somewhat dizzying. If the floodgates were open, the thunderous rush of water would surely be awe-inspiring and breathtaking. Looking farther away, the ceaselessly flowing You River among the towering mountains seemed to start right beneath your feet, joyfully making its way toward the Yuan River and then on to Dongting Lake after contributing its power.

　　 Taking the elevator from the top of the dam leads directly down to the powerhouse inside the dam, descending about 80 meters. Led by the plant’s guide, we arrived at the turbine generator room of the old power generation area. At the time, all four turbine generators were undergoing routine maintenance, allowing us to get up close to these massive machines. In the spacious powerhouse, the four green turbine generators sat quietly—nothing else around. Without a deeper understanding of the plant’s construction and power generation, you might find the visit rather dull. But when these four giants start spinning together, instantly unleashing a powerful current that is transmitted across the Central China Power Grid, you truly realize they are the source of immense energy.

　　 A tunnel connects the old powerhouse inside the dam to the new powerhouse on the left bank, which also serves as an emergency escape route. Entering the new powerhouse felt even less exciting, as the vast space inside was completely empty, with only two huge iron discs overhead. Without going down to the second or third levels, you’d likely be disappointed. Even if you did descend to those lower levels, there wasn’t much to see besides a few pipes. In fact, the more advanced the technology, the simpler it appears. Throughout our visit, we didn’t see a single operator. According to the guide, theoretically, such a large power plant only needs a few maintenance staff, and the entire management can be handled remotely from an office building in Changsha via computer.

　　 Taking the elevator from the new powerhouse leads up to the substation, where the electricity generated by the turbines is transformed into 110,000 volts and 220,000 volts before being integrated into the grid—this marks the completion of the conversion from water to electricity.

　　 I learned that the Fengtan Hydropower Plant in Hunan Province, commonly referred to as the “Fengtan Power Station,” began construction in October 1970 as one of the ten major hydroelectric projects under the national “Third Front Construction” initiative. By the end of 1979, all four generating units were connected to the grid. The Fengtan Power Station is located at the junction of Yongshun, Guzhang, and Yuanling counties, bordering Guzhang County to the northwest and Yongshun County to the northeast. The water resource is provided by the Fengtan Reservoir, formed by damming the You River. The reservoir has a normal water level of 205 meters, a dead water level of 170 meters, and a total capacity of 1.733 billion cubic meters. Today, the Fengtan Dam has a crest elevation of 211.5 meters, a maximum height of 112.5 meters, a crest arc length of 488 meters, a maximum base width of 65.5 meters, and an open spillway with 13 flood discharge gates. Primarily used for power generation, it also serves multiple purposes including flood control, navigation, tourism, aquaculture, and ecological protection.

　　 Some say the pride of the Fengtan Power Station lies in the unique structural design of the Fengtan Dam. It is reportedly the world’s largest concrete hollow gravity arch dam. The dam’s innovative architecture, complex structure, and grand presence have earned it the title “World’s No. 1 Hollow Dam.” The Fengtan Power Station complex consists of a concrete hollow arch dam, an in-dam powerhouse, an in-dam behind-the-dam substation, an open spillway on the dam crest, bottom outlets, and a ship lock. The dam houses four 100,000-kilowatt hydro turbines. According to the guide, the construction method allowed for simultaneous dam building and turbine installation, and the design is cost-effective with impressive economic benefits. A 1987 budget report from the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power showed the entire project cost just 350 million RMB, with an investment cost of only 0.005 RMB per kWh. Another notable feature is that when the flood discharge and sand flushing outlets release water simultaneously, the downward-flowing floodwater and upward-scouring sandwater neutralize each other’s kinetic energy, effectively protecting the dam foundation.

　　 Looking back to 1970s China, we know that productivity was extremely low and resources scarce. Building such a world-leading dam in such a remote valley, relying entirely on tens of thousands of laborers carrying materials by hand, seems almost unimaginable. It’s said that military-style management was implemented at the time, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of workers from over ten neighboring counties for years of large-scale efforts. It was through the hard work of these laborers that such a massive project was accomplished. Beyond power generation, the plant’s completion also improved ecological tourism upstream in Yongshun County. It gave rise to a water-land natural tourist scenic zone centered around the “Buyimen” area in Yongshun County, with the Mengdonghe River as its axis, greatly enhancing the county’s tourism appeal.

　　 However, despite the dam’s innovative design, due to various limitations, the initial installed capacity did not reach the reservoir’s maximum potential, with water resource utilization below 70%. In 1987, then-Minister of Water Resources Qian Zhengying visited Fengtan and, after reviewing the reports and site, suggested that such a large reservoir capacity should not be limited to just 400,000 kilowatts of generating units. She recommended utilizing the existing dam and reservoir resources for an “expansion project,” which could double the power generation and effectively turn one power station into two. Thus, starting in 1991, the people of Fengtan tirelessly pursued the expansion project application—installing two additional 200,000-kilowatt units in the left mountain of the existing dam. Once the second phase of the Fengtan project was completed, the total installed capacity reached 800,000 kilowatts. After relentless efforts, the expansion project was finally approved by the National Planning Commission at the time and commenced in 2002, completing in less than four years. From then on, the power station entered a rapid development phase. This shows that true leaders indeed think strategically and demonstrate foresight—just one decision was equivalent to investing in the construction of another similarly sized hydropower plant for Hunan. One cannot help but admire Minister Qian, an expert in her field.

　　 The Fengtan Power Station was built in the 1970s under the socialist collective economy. It can be said that it was the selfless dedication of the entire people of Hunan and support from all sides that made the Fengtan Power Station what it is today. It is understood that the power station has accumulated nearly 5 billion RMB in profits. Today, the people of Fengtan have used these funds to build many high-end residential areas and luxury hotels for employees in provincial capital Changsha, central city Changde, and other locations—as a form of compensation for those working in the remote mountain plant. However, I believe the people of Fengtan should also consider how to thank the nation and repay the local communities and reservoir residents who made tremendous contributions to the construction of the Fengtan Power Station.