The impact of the Three Gorges Project and heritage protection on the form of Shibao Town, China

Abstract

With the construction of the Three Gorges Project (TGP), the water level of the Chongqing-Yichang section of the Yangtze River channel has risen, inundating historical towns in the river valley. Therefore, measures are taken to protect heritages and relocate original town dwellers, resulting in drastic changes in the form of historical towns. This paper chooses Shibao Town, located in the inundated area, as a case to reveal the impact of large-scale water conservancy facilities on the town form evolution and heritage protection. We first review the morphological evolution of Shibao town before the construction of TGP, which was shaped by special natural landscape and shipping trade. Then, we discuss the disturbance of the town form caused by TGP from two interweaving systems: the water system including rivers, riparian area, stone hills and the humanistic system including towns, street blocks, and buildings. Finally, we discuss the continuation and reconstruction of lifestyle, scenic attractions, and building types in Shibao town. In summary, large-scale water conservancy facilities could switch the development path of town form, but the inheritance of people and heritage would strike a social and cultural resonation between the inundated town and the new town.