Briefing: The ICOLD 2025 pre-study tour to the Yangyze River and Three Gorges Dam, China

The ICOLD 2025 pre-study tour offered a rare opportunity to observe firsthand the engineering achievements along the Yangtze River, one of the most hydrologically significant river systems in the world. The tour included site visits to the Three Gorges Dam, Gezhouba Dam, and Shuibuya Dam – each representing a distinct phase in China’s hydroelectric development. This briefing note presents reflections of the authors’ experiences on the tour, as well as highlighting the British Dam Society’s ongoing collaboration on the international stage.