A ship lift at southwest China's Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station has handled over 10 million tons of cargoes since its commissioning in 2018, providing a major boost to local riverine economy, its operator said on Saturday.
Situated on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the hydropower station is a key project in China's West-to-East power transmission program, generating electricity sufficient to power tens of millions of homes.
Due to the station's size, a ship lift was installed to facilitate cargo transport to continue along this crucial route. It was constructed and operated by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).
Since its commissioning in May 2018, the ship lift has operated at a high efficiency, with a maximum lifting height of 114.2 meters – equivalent to a 40-story building.
"At present, the Xiangjiaba ship lift operates 24 hours a day, with the highest annual navigable days reaching 339. The annual freight volume rose from the 170,000 tons in the beginning of this year to 1.95 million tons. The vessel transit time through the ship lift has been reduced from 60 minutes to 40 minutes," said Xu Jin, deputy director of the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station.
The ship lift has further extended the Yangtze River's navigable reach by over 150 kilometers into the Jinsha River, unlocking its shipping potential and promoting the coordinated economic development of the regions along the river.
Ship lift on upper Yangtze River handles over 23,000 ships
Ship lift on upper Yangtze River handles over 23,000 ships
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
