The tallest dams in China are some of the tallest dams in the world. Nearly 22,000 dams over 15 metres (49 ft) in height – about half the world's total – have been constructed in China since the 1950s. Many of the tallest are located in the southwestern part of the country (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan) on rivers such as the Mekong, the Yangtze, and its upper stretch (Jinsha River) and tributaries (Yalong, Dadu, Min and Wu). The Yellow River in the western part of the country also hosts several among the tallest. Purposes for these high structures include flood control, irrigation and, predominantly, hydroelectric power. While beneficial, many throughout the country have been criticized for their effects on the environment, displacement of locals and effect on transboundary river flows.[1] Currently, the country's and world's tallest, Jinping-I Dam, an arch dam 305 m (1,001 ft) high, is located in Sichuan.[2] The tallest embankment dam in China is the 261 m (856 ft) Nuozhadu Dam in Yunnan. The country's highest gravity dam is Longtan Dam at 216.2 m (709 ft), which can be found in Guangxi.[3] At 233 m (764 ft), Shuibuya Dam in Hubei is the world's tallest concrete-face rock-fill dam.[4][5] In Sichuan, the government is constructing the 312 m (1,024 ft) tall Shuangjiangkou Dam which, when complete, will become the world's tallest dam.[6][7]
All Chinese dams over 100 m (330 ft) in height are listed below.
Name | Region, province or city | Impounds | Height | Type | Complete | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jinping-I Dam | Sichuan | Yalong River | 305 m (1,001 ft) | Arch | 2013 | [8] |
Xiaowan Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 292 m (958 ft) | Arch | 2010 | [9] |
Xiluodu Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 285.5 m (937 ft) | Arch | 2013 | [10] |
Nuozhadu Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 261.5 m (858 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2013 | [11] |
Laxiwa Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 250 m (820 ft) | Arch | 2009 | [12] |
Ertan Dam | Sichuan | Yalong River | 240 m (790 ft) | Arch | 1999 | [13] |
Shuibuya Dam | Hubei | Qing River | 233 m (764 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2008 | [14] |
Goupitan Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 232.5 m (763 ft) | Arch | 2009 | [15] |
Jiangpinghe Dam | Hubei | Loushui River | 221 m (725 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2012 | [4] |
Longtan Dam | Guangxi | Hongshui River | 216 m (709 ft) | Gravity | 2009 | [16] |
Dagangshan Dam | Sichuan | Dadu River | 210 m (690 ft) | Arch | 2015 | [17] |
Guangzhao Dam | Guizhou | Beipan River | 200.5 m (658 ft) | Gravity | 2004 | [18] |
Pubugou Dam | Sichuan | Dadu River | 186 m (610 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2010 | [19] |
Sanbanxi Dam | Guizhou | Yuan (Qingshui) River | 185.5 m (609 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2006 | [4] |
Three Gorges Dam | Hubei | Yangtze River | 181 m (594 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [20] |
Hongjiadu Dam | Guizhou | Liuchong River | 179.5 m (589 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2005 | [21] |
Longyangxia Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 178 m (584 ft) | Arch | 1992 | [22] |
Tianshengqiao-I Dam | Guizhou/Guangxi | Nanpan River | 178 m (584 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2000 | [23] |
Danjiangkou Dam | Hubei | Han River | 176.6 m (579 ft) | Gravity | 1973 | [24] |
Kajiwa Dam | Sichuan | Muli River | 171 m (561 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2014 | [25] |
Guandi Dam | Sichuan | Yalong River | 168 m (551 ft) | Gravity | 2012 | [26] |
Wujiangdu Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 165 m (541 ft) | Arch-gravity | 1979 | [27] |
Dongfeng Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 162 m (531 ft) | Arch | 1995 | [28] |
Tankeng Dam | Zhejiang | Ou River | 162 m (531 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2008 | [29] |
Xiangjiaba Dam | Yunnan/Sichuan | Jinsha River | 161 m (528 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2014 | [30] |
Jinanqiao Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 160 m (520 ft) | Gravity | 2010 | [31] |
Guanyinyan Dam | Yunnan/Sichuan | Jinsha River | 159 m (522 ft) | Gravity | 2014 | [32] |
Pangduo Dam | Tibet | Lhasa River | 158 m (518 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2013 | [33] |
Dongjiang Dam | Hunan | Lishui River | 157 m (515 ft) | Arch | 1992 | [34] |
Geheyan Dam | Hubei | Qing River | 157 m (515 ft) | Arch-gravity | 2006 | [35] |
Jilintai I Dam | Xinjiang | Kashgar River | 157 m (515 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2005 | [36] |
Malutang Dam | Yunnan | Panlong River | 156 m (512 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2009 | [4] |
Shatuo Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 156 m (512 ft) | Arch | 2009 | [37] |
Zipingpu Dam | Sichuan | Min River | 156 m (512 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2006 | [38] |
Bashan Dam | Chongqing | Ren River | 155 m (509 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2009 | [4] |
Lijiaxia Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 155 m (509 ft) | Arch-gravity | 1997 | [39] |
Liyuan Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 155 m (509 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2014 | [40] |
Xiaolangdi Dam | Henan | Yellow River | 154 m (505 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2000 | [41] |
Dongjing Dam | Guizhou | Beipan River | 150 m (490 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2009 | [4] |
Baishan Dam | Jilin | Second Songhua River | 149.5 m (490 ft) | Arch-gravity | 1984 | [42] |
Liujiaxia Dam | Gansu | Yellow River | 147 m (482 ft) | Gravity | 1969 | [43] |
Maoergai Dam | Sichuan | Heishui River | 147 m (482 ft) | Embankment | 2011 | [44] |
Longshou II Dam | Gansu | Heihe River | 146.5 m (481 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2004 | [4] |
Jilebulake Dam | Xinjiang | Haba River | 146.3 m (480 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 1996 | [45] |
Jiangkou Dam | Chongqing | Furong River | 139 m (456 ft) | Arch | 2003 | [46] |
Ahai Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 138 m (453 ft) | Gravity | 2012 | [47] |
Wawushan Dam | Sichuan | Zhougonghe River | 138 m (453 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2007 | [4] |
Wuluwati Dam | Xinjiang | Kalakashi River | 138 m (453 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2001 | [4] |
Jiudianxia Dam | Gansu | Tao River | 136.5 m (448 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2008 | [4] |
Dongping Dam | Hubei | Zhong River | 135 m (443 ft) | Arch | 2006 | [28] |
Longma Dam | Yunnan | Lixian River | 135 m (443 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2007 | [4] |
Dahuashui Dam | Guizhou | Qingshuihe River | 134.5 m (441 ft) | Arch | 2008 | [48] |
Shiyazi Dam | Guizhou | Hongjiadu River | 134.5 m (441 ft) | Gravity | 2010 | [49] |
Yingzidu Dam | Guizhou | Sancha River | 134.5 m (441 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2003 | [50] |
Baozhusi Dam | Sichuan | Bailong River | 132 m (433 ft) | Gravity | 2000 | [49] |
Gongboxia Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 132 m (433 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2006 | [51] |
Lizhou Dam | Sichuan | Muli River | 132 m (433 ft) | Arch | 2016 | [52] |
Manwan Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 132 m (433 ft) | Gravity | 1995 | [53] |
Jiangya Dam | Hunan | Loushui River | 131 m (430 ft) | Gravity | 2000 | [54] |
Baise Dam | Guangxi | You River | 130 m (430 ft) | Gravity | 2006 | [54] |
Hongkou Dam | Fujian | Huotong River | 130 m (430 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [54] |
Jinpen Dam | Shaanxi | Heihe River | 130 m (427 ft) | Embankment | 2002 | [55] |
Shapai Dam | Sichuan | Caopo River | 130 m (430 ft) | Arch | 2006 | [56] |
Hunanzhen Dam | Zhejiang | Qiantang River | 129 m (423 ft) | Buttress | 1980 | [49] |
Ankang Dam | Shaanxi | Han River | 128 m (420 ft) | Gravity | 1989 | [57] |
Tengzigou Dam | Chongqing | Dragon River | 127 m (417 ft) | Arch | 2006 | [28] |
Jiemian Dam | Fujian | Junxi River | 126 m (413 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2007 | [58] |
Guxian Dam | Henan | Luohe River | 125 m (410 ft) | Gravity | 1995 | [49] |
Yele Dam | Sichuan | Nanya River | 124.5 m (408 ft) | Embankment | 2006 | [59] |
Qiaoqi Dam | Sichuan | Baoxinghe River | 123 m (404 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2007 | [60] |
Suofengying Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 121 m (397 ft) | Gravity | 2006 | [54] |
Baiyun Dam | Hunan | Wushui River | 120 m (394 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2006 | [61] |
Gudongkou Dam | Hubei | Xiangqi River | 120 m (394 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 1999 | [61] |
Ludila Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 120 m (390 ft) | Gravity | 2013 | [62] |
Wudu Dam | Sichuan | Fu River | 120 m (390 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [63] |
Longkaikou Dam | Yunnan | Jinsha River | 119 m (390 ft) | Gravity | 2013 | [62] |
Silin Dam | Guizhou | Wu River | 117 m (384 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [64] |
Pengshui Dam | Chongqing | Wu River | 116.5 m (382 ft) | Arch | 2008 | [65] |
Shimenkan Dam | Yunnan | Lixian River | 116 m (381 ft) | Arch | 2010 | [28] |
Tingzikou Dam | Sichuan | Jialing River | 116 m (381 ft) | Gravity | 2014 | [66] |
Zangmu Dam | Tibet Autonomous Region | Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River | 116 m (381 ft) | Gravity | 2015 | [67] |
Sinanjiang Dam | Yunnan | Sinan River | 115 m (377 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2008 | [68] |
Pankou Dam | Hubei | Du River | 114 m (374 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2012 | [69] |
Shitouhe Dam | Shaanxi | Shitouhe River | 114 m (374 ft) | Embankment | 1969 | [61] |
Yunfeng Dam | Jilin | Yalu River | 113.75 m (373.2 ft) | Gravity | 1965 | [49] |
Gelantan Dam | Yunnan | Lixian River | 113 m (371 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [70] |
Mianhuatan Dam | Fujian | Ting River | 113 m (371 ft) | Gravity | 1999 | [71] |
Tianhuaban Dam | Yunnan | Niulan River | 113 m (371 ft) | Arch | 2011 | [72] |
Fengtan Dam | Hunan | You River | 112.5 m (369 ft) | Arch-gravity | 1978 | [73] |
Dachaoshan Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 111 m (364 ft) | Gravity | 2003 | [74] |
Longjiang Dam | Yunnan | Long River | 110 m (361 ft) | Arch | 2010 | [75] |
Yantan Dam | Guangdong | Hongshui River | 110 m (360 ft) | Gravity | 1995 | [76] |
Jinghong Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 108 m (354 ft) | Gravity | 2008 | [77] |
Xinanjiang (Qiandao) Dam | Zhejiang | Qiantang River | 108 m (354 ft) | Gravity | 1959 | [78] |
Lower Baoquan Dam | Henan Province | Yuhe River | 107.5 m (353 ft) | Gravity | 1994/2011 | [79] |
Panjiakou Dam | Hebei | Luan River | 107.5 m (353 ft) | Gravity | 1984 | [49] |
Huanglongtan Dam | Hubei | Du River | 107 m (351 ft) | Gravity | 1976 | [49] |
Sanmenxia Dam | Henan/Shanxi | Yellow River | 106 m (348 ft) | Gravity | 1960 | [80] |
Shuifeng (Sup'ung) Dam | Liaoning | Yalu River | 106 m (348 ft) | Gravity | 1941 | [81] |
Madushan Dam | Yunnan | Honghe (Red) River | 105.5 m (346 ft) | Gravity | 2011 | [82] |
Gongguoqiao Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 105 m (344 ft) | Gravity | 2011 | [83] |
Wanjiazhai Dam | Shaanxi | Yellow River | 105 m (344 ft) | Gravity | 1998 | [84] |
Xinfengjiang Dam | Guangdong | Xinfeng River | 105 m (344 ft) | Gravity | 1962 | [61] |
Zhexi Dam | Hunan | Zi Shui River | 104 m (341 ft) | Gravity | 1962 | [61] |
Jinshuitan Dam | Zhejiang | Longquan Creek | 102 m (335 ft) | Arch | 1988 | [34] |
Bikou Dam | Gansu | Bailong River | 101 m (331 ft) | Embankment | 1977 | [85] |
Jishixia Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 101 m (331 ft) | Gravity | 2010 | [86] |
Lubuge Dam | Guizhou\Yunnan | Huangni River | 101 m (331 ft) | Embankment | 1988 | [61] |
Shuikou Dam | Fujian | Min River | 101 m (331 ft) | Gravity | 1996 | [87] |
![]() | This section needs to be updated. (February 2017) |
Name | Region, province or city | Impounds | Height | Type | Completion | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shuangjiangkou Dam | Sichuan | Dadu River | 312 m (1,024 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2020 | [6] |
Lianghekou Dam | Sichuan | Yalong River | 295 m (968 ft) | Arch | 2023 | [88] |
Baihetan Dam | Sichuan/Yunnan | Jinsha River | 277 m (909 ft) | Arch | 2019 | [89] |
Changheba Dam | Sichuan | Dadu River | 240 m (790 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2016 | [90] |
Wudongde Dam | Sichuan/Yunnan | Jinsha River | 240 m (787 ft) | Gravity | 2018 | [91] |
Houziyan Dam | Guizhou | Dadu River | 223.5 m (733 ft) | Embankment | 2016 | [92] |
Maerdang Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 211 m (692 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2016 | [93] |
Huangdeng Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 203 m (666 ft) | Gravity | 2019 | [94] |
Quxue Dam | Sichuan | Shuoqu River | 164.2 m (539 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2017 | [95] |
Yangqu Dam | Qinghai | Yellow River | 150 m (492 ft) | Concrete-face rock-fill | 2016 | [96] |
Miaowei Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 139.8 m (459 ft) | Embankment, rock-fill | 2016 | [97] |
Wunonglong Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 137.5 m (451 ft) | Gravity | 2016 | [98] |
Dahuaqiao Dam | Yunnan | Lancang River | 106 m (348 ft) | Gravity | 2018 | [99] |