The Yangtze River. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world, displaced 1.5 million people and submerged cities, towns and villages, the collective total exceeding over a 1000 along a 700km stretch on China's longest river. Chongqing, China.
A worker returning home after a day’s work at the Three Gorges Dam construction site. In the distance, a three-storey boat is dwarfed by the gigantic 1.3 mile wide construction which has nearly blocked off the river. Although the final completion date for the dam was not due until 2009, the dam has been operational since 1st June 2003. Sandouping, China.
An old passenger boat on the waters of the Yangtze River by the Three Gorges. Hubei, China.
The last vestiges of normal life in a town that has virtually been destroyed. The mass exodus of its population has turned the old section of the city into a ghost town. This bridge once the defining landmark of the city is just weeks away from being dynamited. Wanzhou, China.
The destroyed old city of Wanzhou, only a few remaining local inhabitants are left behind. Mostly migrant workers remain to dismantle the city by hand and occasionally by using explosives. Wanzhou, China.
Inhabitants relocating by boat. Yunyang, China.
Recent settlers from the new city return home after a visit to the banks of the river. In the foreground the old city of Fuling has been razed and the land reclaimed to protect it from the soon to be rising waters. The front row of darker buildings are all that is left of the old city. Higher up in the distance, a strip of lighter buildings mark the beginning of the new city. Fuling, China.
Migrant worker and travellers. Boat services to Yichang are disrupted due to the construction of the dam and the last section of this journey are replaced by bus services. Yichang, China.
Migrant worker heading to the local docks after the recent demolition of the old town. Zigui, China.
Two brothers playing in their home. Their family are one of the last remaining inhabitants in this partially demolished town. Badong, China.
Families relocating by boat. Yangtze River, China.
Labourers unloading sacks of salt from a nearby barge. Many of the labourers in cities and towns along the river come from surrounding villages in the hills, they flock to the larger towns for jobs and better wages. Yun Yang, China.
Migrant workers carrying a heavy concrete block using a modified traditional shoulder pole. They sing in unison to coordinate their movements. The destruction and and relocation of the population living on the banks of the Yangtze is one of the largest of such projects in history. Zigui, China.
Labourers carrying belongings with a traditional shoulder pole at the bus station for inhabitants relocating to the new town. Yunyang, China.
One of the last remaining inhabitants, a barber works in a demolished high-rise building where only the ground floor remains intact. Wushan, China.
Workers in a small privately owned noodle making factory along the Yangtze River. There are often complaints of state compensation not reaching displaced inhabitants due to local corruption by local authorities. Chongqing, China.
Locals looking at Badong, a town that will eventually be two thirds submerged when the Three Gorges Dam is completed. Badong, China.
Migrant worker at a construction site in the new town. The town is built higher up the mountains and will replace the old town that will eventually be submerged upon the completion of the Three Gorges Dam. Yunyang, China.
Migrant workers dismantling a recently vacated building. The workers supplement their poor income by selling scrap metal and bricks salvaged from demolition sites. Badong, China.
Migrant workers from surrounding villages dismantling a recently vacated building. The dam has had many far-reaching impacts, one of which is the destruction of a combined total of over a thousand cities, towns and villages along the river. The purpose of dismantling buildings are to clear a path for the eventual submergence and to prevent disenchanted ex-inhabitants from returning to their old dwellings. Badong, China.
Daily life on the Yangtze River.
Last inhabitants. As the last inhabitants move out, the business activity of these old towns ground to an inevitable halt. Badong, China.
Last inhabitants. As the last inhabitants move out, the business activity of these old towns ground to an inevitable halt. Badong, China.
A street vendor selling food to passengers on a boat. Yichang, China.
A displaced family traveling by boat to relocate to one of the coastal cities in the East. The displaced are encouraged to move to the new cities or under-populated regions, which are generally impoverished areas such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Gansu. However, many have also taken their chances by joining China’s 150 million floating population and travelling to the richer coastal cities in the East in search of work. China’s complex residential laws mean that many of those who choose to relocate to places that do not fit with the Government’s relocation programme will lose out on social benefits. Yangtze River, China.
Night life on Chaotianmen docks. Business men go for dinner on floating Chinese restaurants on the river. Chongqing, China.
Living quarters of construction workers at the Three Gorges Dam construction site. Sandouping, China.
Migrant workers. Yichang, China.
The last remaining family moves home. In the background is a levelled construction site, this used to be the site of the old city. Wushan, China.
A view of the The Three Gorges a few days before the waters rise due to the inundation of the dam. Yangtze River, China.
The new city of Mao Ping, hailed as a model city by the government, it is an example of the new redevelopments that are supposed to replace the old cities and towns along the Yangtze River. However, many new cities suffer from high unemployment, often as high as 50%, and many residents complain about the high cost of renting and buying property. Mao Ping, China.
New construction high up on the surrounding hills of the Yangtze River. Chongqing, China.
New settlers visit the riverbanks by the newly built docks in Fuling. Land has been reclaimed and the docks built to accommodate the rising waters of the river in the coming months. Fuling, China.
A view of the Three Gorges Dam under construction seen from the Yangtze River. Sandouping, China.