Three Gorges History Drowning in Rising Reservoir

The Three Gorges Dam in China is nearing completion, creating a reservoir that will flood over 400 square miles.
More than a million people are being relocated, including their homes, schools, and hospitals.
The area has a unique culture that is difficult to fully preserve amid these changes.

Stone Treasure Fortress:
- An 18th-century pagoda remains at the Stone Treasure Fortress, which was the stronghold of the Dung clan.
- Local legend ties the fortress’s name to a goddess named Niwa.
- Engineers are working to protect the fortress with concrete and steel pillars to keep it above water.
Historical Significance:
- The region has evidence of human habitation dating back 2 million years and was known as the Kingdom of Ba.
- A nearby temple was moved piece by piece to preserve it, but major intangible cultural aspects are being lost.

Traditional customs, such as using baskets to carry items, are disappearing as infrastructure modernizes.
Notable literary references to the region, such as poems by Li Bai, will no longer reflect reality due to the dam's construction.
- Descriptions of natural landscapes will become obsolete as they are submerged.
Dachang Village:
- The ancient village has been transformed into a theme park, losing its authenticity in the process of preservation.

Tang Yu Yang, a scholar, emphasizes the loss of the relationship between the people and their landscape due to the dam.
Concerns are raised about the balance between technological development and cultural preservation.
Some hope for a new culture to emerge despite losses, but acknowledge substantial heritage is at risk of being submerged indefinitely.

The construction of the dam highlights broader issues of urbanization, cultural heritage loss, and environmental change affecting many areas of China.
The plight of the 3 Gorges region serves as a poignant example of these challenges, where rich cultural traditions are being lost beneath the water.