Special report: Three Gorges project

Photo taken on May 16, 2006 shows the construction site of the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River. The installation work of the last two sets of washboards for the hydropower plant on the right bank of the project is to be completed soon. The total 12 sets of washboards are extremely important for the demolition of the cofferdam of the third-stage construction of the project, and the water storage work of the Three Gorges Reservoir with a water level of 156 meters. (Xinhua photo)

Workers prepare for the last part to be concreted on the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project on the Yangtze River May 15, 2006. There are less than 3,000 cubic meters of concrete left to be placed before the dam finally completes on May 20, 2006, nine months ahead of the schedule. The dam, divided into two phases -- the right and the left banks, is situated near the Xiling Gorge, the eastern most gorge of the Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The completion of the construction for the dam, 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, marks the principal part of the project is done. (Xinhua photo) (Related news: Last part to be concreted on Three Gorges dam)

Workers weld the reinforcing steel bars as a preparation for the last part to be concreted on the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project on the Yangtze River May 13. (Xinhua photo)

A technician makes an inspection on the reinforcing steel bars as a preparation for the last part to be concreted on the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project on the Yangtze River May 15. (Xinhua photo)

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2006 shows technicians monitoring the operation of the two-way five-step lock of the Three Gorges Water Control Project on the Yangtze River. The giant ship lock, the largest in the world, opened officially for navigation in July 2004 following a one-year successful trial operation. Some 190,000 vessels had passed the lock, with a total traffic amount of 89 million tons of cargoes and more than 5.2 million passengers till the end of 2005. (Xinhua photo)

Photo taken on May 15, 2006 shows a trial blast of the temporary cofferdam of the third-stage construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. The cofferdam, a key temporary structure in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, started to generate power for construction crews in the earlier period of on-land construction of the dam's right bank in 2003. The cofferdam is to be demolished on June 6, according to China Three Gorges Project Corporation. (Xinhua Photo. (Xinhua photo)

Technicians check the digital detonators for a trial blast of the temporary cofferdam of the third-stage construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. (Xinhua photo)

The exploded digital detonators after a trial blast of the temporary cofferdam of the third-stage construction of the Three Gorges Dam (Xinhua photo)

Photo taken on April 18, 2006 shows passenger and cargo vessels passing the two-way five-step lock of the Three Gorges Water Control Project on the Yangtze River. (Xinhua photo)

Photo taken on May 1, 2006 shows tourists enjoying a distant view of the two-way five-step lock of the Three Gorges Water Control Project on the Yangtze River. (Xinhua photo)

The picture taken on May 14, 2006 shows a view of the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project under construction on the Yangtze River. (Xinhua photo)

The picture taken on May 14, 2006 shows a distant view of the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project under construction on the Yangtze River. (Xinhua photo)