Manbitou Hydropower Station

　　The Manbitou Hydropower Station in Taishan City is situated at the picturesque foot of Beifeng Mountain, neighboring the renowned Shipitan Scenic Area across the mountain, with the Gudou Mountain Four-Stage Power Station above it and the Tangtian Reservoir below. The Manbitou water system is part of the Gudou Mountain water system, with a catchment area of 19.86 square kilometers and an original water storage capacity of 1.75 million cubic meters.

　　 The Manbitou Hydropower Station was one of the earliest hydropower projects built in Guangdong Province and also the first hydropower station in Central and South China. As such, it has been hailed as the “first pearl of hydropower in Taishan.” A gypsum model of the station was once displayed at exhibitions held by the Guangdong Provincial Water Resources Department and the Central Ministry of Hydropower, attracting many industry professionals as well as a large number of domestic and international visitors. It gained widespread fame both at home and abroad.

　　 The Manbitou Hydropower Station was initially constructed in 1948, funded through donations raised by overseas Chinese, and was completed in April 1952. It was the first to introduce a hydroelectric generating unit manufactured in the United States, with a capacity of 175 kilowatts. A 10-kilovolt power transmission line, 18 kilometers long, was erected to supply electricity to Taicheng, primarily for residential use and lighting. Later, another unit made in Germany, with a capacity of 180 kilowatts, was added. Subsequently, two more units were installed, each with a rated capacity of 250 kilowatts. The total installed capacity amounted to 855 kilowatts. These units operated until 1984. After over 30 years of service, they had suffered significant wear and tear, with aging and outdated electromechanical equipment that needed replacement. Additionally, after thorough evaluation, it was decided to increase the unit capacity to accommodate future development. As a result, the old power plant and original equipment were decommissioned, and a new power plant was built on the upper side of the original site. Two new units were installed, with rated capacities of 1,000 kilowatts and 500 kilowatts respectively. A 35-kilovolt transmission line, 17 kilometers long, was also constructed to connect to the Tashan Substation in Taicheng.