Fuling
The city of Fuling, like many communities on the Yangzi, has been profoundly affected by the building of the Three Gorges Dam. Just an hour from the booming metropolis of Chongqing, this city of a million people has been completely transformed over the past decade. The rising waters of the Yangzi have prompted the government to demolish much of the city and build a series of dikes, highways and bridges in its place. A new section of the city has been built further up the hill from the river to accommodate the displaced people.
It is the hope of the people of Fuling that all of these changes will bring prosperity to the area. In the meantime the city has a distinct feeling of a place in transition. Half-finished buildings and bridges dot the waterfront while farmers work the land where homes have been demolished and new high-rises have yet to be built. Only time will tell if the dam, and all of its effects, will be good or bad for Fuling and the other communities along the Yangzi.
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Just read Peter Hessler’s book about Fuling called “River Town”. Great read about a Peace Corp volunteer’s two year stint in Fuling learning the language, culture, and making many Chinese friends.
I am reading Peter Hessler’s book about Fuling and was curious to see how far the water had risen from the damming. My partner’s father is a hydrologist from MIT and I have been following the story of the Three Gorges Dam closely. The photos are wonderful.
My friend and I traveled to Fuling in Dec, 2002 for her to adopt a baby. With the earthquake of May 12, 2008, I was wondering how bad the town was hit. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We stayed in the Holiday Inn in Chongquing. Thanks
I am currently reading Peter Hessler’s book. I am visiting my daughter & family in Shanghai and purchased his book in a Shanghai bookstore. It is a great book. I see the same cultural/social/economic issues in Shanghai in 2008 as he saw in Fuling in 1996. The attitudes of the people haven’t changed. I love the people and being in Shanghai for 3 months.