How does the Yangtze River connect Shanghai and Chongqing?

The Yangtze River serves as a vital inland waterway connecting Shanghai, located on the East China Sea, to the inland city of Chongqing. This connection spans approximately 2,250 km (1,400 miles) inland.1

The navigation of this route is facilitated by the Three Gorges Dam, which created an immense deepwater reservoir that allows oceangoing freighters to travel between the two cities. Navigation past the dam is managed through a complex system of five-tier ship locks, which accommodate vessels of up to 10,000 tons, and a ship lift that allows smaller vessels of up to 3,000 tons to bypass the locks more quickly.123

Before the completion of the dam, navigation through the Yangtze Gorges was significantly improved by extensive work in the 1950s, including dredging and the installation of navigational aids, which rendered the route safer for regular cargo and passenger services.42