During the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, luxury cruise lines, such as Victoria Cruises, offered trips up the Yangtze River to the Three Gorges Dam. Sometimes referred to as “farewell cruises,” (“Up the Yangtze”) the cruise highlighted points along the journey that would soon become submerged as the various phases of the project were completed. These cruises were designed for the purpose of tourism. As a result, most of the travelers onboard, who were given an opportunity to bid farewell to the landscape were from Western countries. While parts of the landscape originally included in these tours have been submerged, these cruises continue today. Depicted is a map of the current locations included on the Victoria Cruises Yangtze River cruise that travels from Chongqing to Yichang. I included this as a part of my exhibit because it highlights the problematic nature of the dam, even as it does so, in an indirect and equally questionable way. For, although it relates to tourism, the existence of these cruises recognizes the change to the landscape and the submersion of different places.
Source: “Up the Yangtze: Documentary Takes on Social Impact of Three Gorges Dam in China.” democracynow, April 24, 2008, https://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/24/up_the_yangtze_documentary_takes_on.