On September 25th, the State Council issued "Opinions on Relying Golden Waterway to Promote Yangtze River Economic Belt” and “The Comprehensive Transportation Corridor Plan of Yangtze River Economic Belt (2014-2020)”. The former gave detailed accounts about the upgrading of the Yangtze golden waterway function, the construction of an integrated three-dimensional transport corridor, the innovation-driven industrial transformation and upgrading, and the comprehensive promotion of the new urbanization, etc. “Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Corridor Plan (2014-2020) "was also issued. Yichang, as the place of the only two Yangtze River dams, was mentioned several times.
　　On July 21st, 2013, during an inspection visit to Xingangyang Luoji Container Port in Wuhan, Xi Jinping, CPC General Secretary, put forward the strategy that efforts should be made to strength the cooperation between different parts of Yangtze River basin, to give a full play to the inland shipping and develop the whole basin into golden waterway. After several investigations conducted by the State Council, the opinions on the Yangtze River golden waterway development came into being. Experts predict that, according to the “Opinions”, Yichang will soon get the chance for further development. The “Opinions” put forward some accurate arrangements and plans about expanding the transport capacity of Three Gorges, constructing Yichang Port, dealing pollutions, protecting water and soil resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir area and carrying out the experimental research on Yichang- Anqing section of waterway engineering model. It is noteworthy that Hong-hua-tao area in Yidu, the river tunnel in Zhijiang and the river tunnel in Wu-jia-gang District and the train & vehicle river tunnel in Yichang are required to be finished by 2020.
　　Expanding the Yangtze River waterway transport capacity brings great economic benefit. “Opinions" indicate that it is necessary to expand the Three Gorges transport capacity. Efforts should be made to tap the potential and improve the transport capacity of the existing locks of the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam, and regulate the waterway between the two dams. We should accelerate the construction of Dam-climbing transportation system, endeavors to realize the seamless connection of waterway and highway, and vigorously promote the construction of the multi-transport system of waterway and railway. Besides, we should pay close attention to the construction of the oil and gas pipelines of Three Gorges Project cargo Persion and actively implement the supply of land Persion. At last, we should strengthen the preliminary studies of the Three Gorges new waterway and Gezhouba waterway supporting project.
　　The “second season” of Three Gorges Project post-construction and Gezhouba Project development are officially put on the agenda. Currently, Yichang is promoting the construction of the Three Gorges hub to perfect dam-climbing transportation system and achieve the seamless connection of highway and waterway. This is substantially supported by sustainable development.  (Reporter: Zhang Liang)