Bethan ac Afon Yangtse ‹ Cyfres 2008

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-The Yangtze is crucial -for China's future.	0:00:02	0:00:05
-From its source in Tibet -to its estuary in Shanghai...	0:00:07	0:00:11
-..it's one of the busiest and -most dangerous rivers in the world.	0:00:11	0:00:15
-During the past century, floods -have killed over 300,000 people.	0:00:18	0:00:22
-Today, -the people are fighting back...	0:00:27	0:00:30
-..with a plan to control -the river's destructive power.	0:00:30	0:00:34
-The Three Gorges Dam is so vast, -you can see it from space.	0:00:34	0:00:38
-The dam's hydropower -drives the Chinese economy...	0:00:39	0:00:43
-..and feeds cities -such as Chongqing...	0:00:43	0:00:46
-..which is growing faster -than any other city in the world.	0:00:46	0:00:50
-But there is a price to pay -for this accelerated growth.	0:00:53	0:00:57
-For 400 miles -further up the river...	0:00:59	0:01:01
-..the landscape -has changed completely.	0:01:02	0:01:04
-Thousands of homes have been -submerged under this great lake.	0:01:05	0:01:09
-At its estuary, the river -is eroding the coastline...	0:01:12	0:01:16
-..and undermining -the Chinese economy.	0:01:16	0:01:19
-Today, the ancient history -of the Yangtze is being rewritten.	0:01:25	0:01:29
-For better and for worse.	0:01:31	0:01:34
-This is my first visit to China.	0:01:56	0:02:00
-The country is changing rapidly.	0:02:01	0:02:03
-In recent years, -China's economy has grown faster...	0:02:04	0:02:07
-..than any other economy -in the world.	0:02:07	0:02:11
-Many Chinese people -have benefited from this growth.	0:02:11	0:02:15
-Others haven't been as fortunate.	0:02:16	0:02:19
-The economic growth continues.	0:02:22	0:02:25
-The ideal of Communism, personal -sacrifice for the good of others...	0:02:25	0:02:30
-..meets the idea -of free trade in China.	0:02:30	0:02:33
-Changes have happened -beyond people's lives.	0:02:33	0:02:36
-The landscape has also changed, -and the Yangtze in particular.	0:02:36	0:02:40
-The story of the Yangtze -is the story of modern China.	0:02:42	0:02:45
-It shows how the Government -tries to control nature...	0:02:45	0:02:49
-..as it shapes the nation's future.	0:02:49	0:02:51
-But the Yangtze -is a dangerous force.	0:02:55	0:02:59
-It has an incredible hold -over the country.	0:03:00	0:03:03
-It's a power -which it has always had.	0:03:04	0:03:07
-For centuries, -the Yangtze has fed the plant...	0:03:12	0:03:15
-..which feeds the world's -largest population.	0:03:15	0:03:19
-China's paddy fields flourish -on the river's nourishment.	0:03:19	0:03:23
-As it flows from the mountains -to the sea...	0:03:26	0:03:29
-..the Yangtze erodes the land...	0:03:29	0:03:31
-..and carries mineral-laden silt -in its waters.	0:03:32	0:03:35
-When it reaches the plains, it -overflows and fertilizes the soil.	0:03:37	0:03:41
-The Yangtze aids the production of -almost 50% of China's grain crops.	0:03:46	0:03:51
-The river breathes life -into the land...	0:03:51	0:03:53
-..but it's also a destructive force.	0:03:54	0:03:56
-The Yangtze regularly overflows.	0:03:56	0:03:59
-When that happens, -it endangers the lives...	0:03:59	0:04:02
-..of people -who live on the riverbanks.	0:04:02	0:04:04
-In 1998, a wave measuring 50 metres -in height surged down the river...	0:04:12	0:04:17
-..destroying 5 million houses.	0:04:17	0:04:19
-As millions of people -fled from their homes...	0:04:24	0:04:27
-..the Government declared -a state of emergency.	0:04:27	0:04:31
-The 1998 floods were a huge setback -for the Chinese economy.	0:04:35	0:04:40
-It strengthened the argument that -something drastic had to be done...	0:04:40	0:04:44
-..to stop the river -overflowing again.	0:04:44	0:04:47
-This is how the Government -intends to do that.	0:04:51	0:04:54
-The Three Gorges Dam.	0:04:55	0:04:57
-Almost 200m tall -and a mile in length...	0:04:58	0:05:02
-..this is China's -largest construction project...	0:05:02	0:05:06
-..since the Great Wall.	0:05:06	0:05:08
-The Government claims -that this concrete dam...	0:05:10	0:05:13
-..will control the river -and prevent flooding.	0:05:13	0:05:16
-It's hugely ambitious...	0:05:16	0:05:18
-..and the technology behind it -is just as ambitious.	0:05:18	0:05:21
-The construction work continues but -the main wall has been completed...	0:05:29	0:05:33
-..creating a reservoir -400 miles long.	0:05:34	0:05:37
-This will calm the waters that have -created so much pain in the past.	0:05:38	0:05:42
-The idea of creating the dam -has been discussed for years.	0:05:48	0:05:52
-In the '50s, -Communist leader Mao Tse-Tung...	0:05:56	0:05:59
-..supported the construction...	0:05:59	0:06:02
-..of the world's largest -hydro-electrical dam.	0:06:02	0:06:05
-In 1994, after Mao's death...	0:06:10	0:06:13
-..official permission -was granted for the project.	0:06:14	0:06:19
-The work of constructing a dam -across the Yangtze began.	0:06:19	0:06:22
-It was one of the most controversial -construction projects in history.	0:06:22	0:06:27
-20,000 people worked -around the clock on the project.	0:06:32	0:06:36
-It has so far cost 12 billion.	0:06:36	0:06:40
-Many have paid the ultimate cost.	0:06:42	0:06:45
-Over a thousand workers have died -during the construction.	0:06:47	0:06:51
-Zhang Chaoran has been part -of the project since the start.	0:06:55	0:06:59
-He is the dam's Chief Engineer.	0:06:59	0:07:02
-According to him, those who died -sacrificed their lives for others.	0:07:03	0:07:07
-We've reduced instances -of the Yangtze overflowing...	0:07:12	0:07:16
-..from one in 10 years -to one in 100 years.	0:07:16	0:07:19
-If we have floods similar -to the floods of 1998 again...	0:07:19	0:07:23
-..the dam will make a difference.	0:07:23	0:07:27
-The people lower down the river -won't be affected.	0:07:27	0:07:30
-The dam successfully controls -the river's flow.	0:07:32	0:07:37
-Being on the dam -is a frightening feeling.	0:07:39	0:07:42
-You can feel the water -surging under your feet.	0:07:43	0:07:46
-It makes everything shake.	0:07:46	0:07:48
-If I stop walking, -can you see the water moving?	0:07:48	0:07:52
-But the dam could create -the worst wave China has ever seen.	0:07:55	0:08:01
-The region around the Three Gorges -is a hotspot for earthquakes.	0:08:04	0:08:08
-This concrete wall has been built -on top of a seismic fault.	0:08:09	0:08:13
-Storing so much water in an area -affected by earthquakes is a danger.	0:08:17	0:08:22
-The engineers insist that they have -taken this into consideration.	0:08:22	0:08:27
-In this area, earthquakes are rare.	0:08:29	0:08:32
-An earthquake measuring higher -than six on the Richter scale...	0:08:33	0:08:37
-..happens once every 10,000 years.	0:08:37	0:08:40
-This dam has been built to withstand -an earthquake measuring seven.	0:08:40	0:08:46
-If the unexpected did happen and -an earthquake destroyed the dam...	0:08:50	0:08:55
-..it would create the most -devastating wave in China's history.	0:08:56	0:09:00
-Some say the dam -could cause an earthquake.	0:09:01	0:09:04
-The weight of the water -in the reservoir...	0:09:04	0:09:07
-..could cause the earth's core -to move.	0:09:08	0:09:11
-The Government has admitted -that seismic activity in the area...	0:09:12	0:09:17
-..has increased -since the reservoir was created.	0:09:17	0:09:20
-But it insists that the danger -is minimal...	0:09:22	0:09:25
-..when compared -to the advantages the dam creates.	0:09:25	0:09:28
-So far, it has been right.	0:09:29	0:09:31
-Since building the reservoir, -the river has overflown...	0:09:31	0:09:35
-..less than 25% of its usual rate.	0:09:35	0:09:38
-The concrete wall -has succeeded in calming the waters.	0:09:38	0:09:42
-Stopping floods was only one reason -for building the dam.	0:09:44	0:09:48
-Another reason -was building the Chinese economy.	0:09:48	0:09:52
-The role of the Yangtze is crucial.	0:09:52	0:09:55
-The Three Gorges Dam -has transformed the Yangtze...	0:10:04	0:10:08
-..from a wild river to one -of the calmest rivers to sail on.	0:10:09	0:10:13
-Before the dam was built...	0:10:18	0:10:20
-..ships struggled -to contend with the current.	0:10:21	0:10:24
-Today, -the dam has eased the current...	0:10:24	0:10:27
-..making it easier for ships -to travel further than ever...	0:10:27	0:10:31
-..into the Chinese mainland.	0:10:32	0:10:34
-It would be impossible for ships -to travel through the dam.	0:10:37	0:10:41
-There's a long concrete wall -in the way.	0:10:41	0:10:44
-But the water level below the dam -is hundreds of feet lower...	0:10:44	0:10:48
-..than the water level -above the dam.	0:10:48	0:10:51
-Engineers have devised the world's -most sophisticated floodgate system.	0:10:51	0:10:56
-It allows ships to travel -600 feet up and down the river.	0:10:57	0:11:02
-It's a journey of five hours, -along the cement corridors...	0:11:07	0:11:11
-..from one river level to another.	0:11:11	0:11:14
-Today, large cargo ships...	0:11:18	0:11:21
-..can travel over a thousand miles -up and down the river.	0:11:21	0:11:25
-The traffic on the Yangtze -will increase as a result.	0:11:27	0:11:32
-This new trade route is -regenerating certain parts of China.	0:11:36	0:11:40
-Huge cities are being formed.	0:11:41	0:11:43
-In addition to connecting these -cities with the outside world...	0:11:44	0:11:48
-..the dam is the force -behind their growth.	0:11:48	0:11:51
-The dam creates the electricity -that drives the Chinese economy.	0:11:55	0:11:59
-This is the world's -largest hydroelectric station.	0:12:02	0:12:06
-The river can generate -as much power...	0:12:09	0:12:13
-..as twelve nuclear power stations.	0:12:13	0:12:15
-The Government claims -that this clean electricity...	0:12:18	0:12:21
-..will decrease the amount -of fossil fuel China uses.	0:12:22	0:12:25
-It will also decrease -carbon emissions.	0:12:25	0:12:28
-But not everyone supports the plan.	0:12:28	0:12:32
-The Three Gorges Project -has created protests...	0:12:33	0:12:37
-..never before seen -in Communist China.	0:12:37	0:12:41
-To understand the root -of these protests...	0:12:44	0:12:47
-..I'm travelling upriver to a -landscape that's completely changed.	0:12:48	0:12:53
-I'm going to meet people -who've lost their homes...	0:12:55	0:12:58
-..under the water.	0:12:58	0:13:01
-.	0:13:07	0:13:07
-..I travel up the Yangtze, -against the current...	0:13:19	0:13:22
-..to the area which gave its name -to the dam - Three Gorges.	0:13:22	0:13:26
-This area was renowned -for its gorges...	0:13:31	0:13:34
-..which stretched far -from the main river's valley.	0:13:34	0:13:38
-I was worried the dramatic landscape -would have disappeared...	0:13:42	0:13:46
-..under the reservoir -created by the dam.	0:13:46	0:13:49
-I'm not sure what to expect here.	0:13:49	0:13:51
-I knew that it was -a beautiful area...	0:13:51	0:13:54
-..before the water levels rose.	0:13:54	0:13:57
-I was worried -that little would be left...	0:13:57	0:14:00
-..but, as you can see, -it's still beautiful...	0:14:00	0:14:03
-..and still well worth a visit.	0:14:04	0:14:06
-But we're talking about far more -than losing a landscape here.	0:14:06	0:14:11
-The homes of many people have -also disappeared under the water.	0:14:13	0:14:17
-After a 75-mile journey, -I reach the town of Wushan.	0:14:23	0:14:27
-The population here -has first-hand experience...	0:14:31	0:14:34
-..of the changes caused by the dam.	0:14:35	0:14:37
-When the dam -became operational in 2004...	0:14:40	0:14:43
-..the river level rose by 50m here.	0:14:43	0:14:46
-It submerged a large part -of the old Wushan.	0:14:46	0:14:49
-An entire city -was laid to rest under this river.	0:14:49	0:14:53
-Chen Qi Ying used to live -in the old part of the city.	0:14:55	0:14:59
-He was a Government official...	0:14:59	0:15:01
-..when the Government -moved people to the new city...	0:15:02	0:15:05
-..further up the mountain.	0:15:05	0:15:07
-The people were moved -in four stages.	0:15:11	0:15:15
-It was impossible -to move everyone at the same time.	0:15:15	0:15:19
-First, we chose a small area -as a test site.	0:15:19	0:15:23
-Then, we gradually moved the people.	0:15:24	0:15:27
-Today, we have 40,000 newcomers -living in the new city.	0:15:30	0:15:36
-The remains of the old city -are being destroyed...	0:15:41	0:15:45
-..as the new city grows.	0:15:45	0:15:47
-The Government claims that change -and modernisation are good.	0:15:48	0:15:52
-Many locals disagree.	0:15:52	0:15:56
-Some are trying to retain -their old way of life...	0:15:59	0:16:02
-..as they continue to work -on their old farmland.	0:16:02	0:16:06
-In a country where -the Government uses force...	0:16:09	0:16:12
-..to stop protests -against the dam...	0:16:12	0:16:14
-..these people -will also be silenced.	0:16:15	0:16:17
-This empty area behind me will be -developed as part of the new city.	0:16:20	0:16:27
-It will be developed very quickly.	0:16:29	0:16:32
-It will soon be a plaza -for the community.	0:16:32	0:16:36
-Eventually, -these farmers will be forced out.	0:16:41	0:16:44
-In China, -the Government owns the land.	0:16:49	0:16:53
-The population rents it -on a long-term contract...	0:16:53	0:16:57
-..but the Government can cancel -that contract at any time.	0:16:57	0:17:01
-If it wants to, it can submerge -entire cities to create a new China.	0:17:01	0:17:06
-In Wales, we are familiar -with the idea of villages...	0:17:13	0:17:17
-..being submerged under reservoirs -in Tryweryn and Elan.	0:17:17	0:17:21
-But let's be honest about this. -Capel Celyn was a small village.	0:17:21	0:17:26
-Here, we are talking about -13 cities, over 100 towns...	0:17:27	0:17:31
-..and over 1,000 villages, -lost forever.	0:17:31	0:17:35
-Up to 2 million people -have lost their homes.	0:17:40	0:17:44
-Many have been moved -to other areas...	0:17:46	0:17:49
-..where the dialect, the weather and -even the local cuisine is different.	0:17:49	0:17:54
-Many have lost their living -as well as their homes.	0:17:54	0:17:58
-Tan Tsia Lan owns a charter boat...	0:18:05	0:18:07
-..which works out of Wushan docks.	0:18:07	0:18:10
-Today, she organizes trips -for tourists along the Yangtze...	0:18:10	0:18:14
-..and its tributaries.	0:18:15	0:18:16
-Before the dam was built, -Lan's life was completely different.	0:18:17	0:18:21
-Before starting -my tourism business...	0:18:23	0:18:26
-..I ran a small tavern.	0:18:27	0:18:29
-I was also a farmer.	0:18:29	0:18:31
-When the Three Gorges Reservoir -started to fill...	0:18:35	0:18:39
-..Lan's farmhouse was among -the first to be submerged.	0:18:39	0:18:43
-As the river level rose, -she moved higher up the mountain.	0:18:44	0:18:48
-Then, the water level rose again.	0:18:48	0:18:51
-We moved three times.	0:18:54	0:18:56
-Once in 1997, when the course -of the river changed...	0:18:56	0:19:00
-..once in 2003, and again in 2005.	0:19:00	0:19:04
-We had to move everyone -and everything.	0:19:04	0:19:07
-It was a huge effort -and an expensive exercise.	0:19:07	0:19:10
-Despite her troubles, -the Government claims...	0:19:14	0:19:17
-..that Lan's story -is one of success.	0:19:17	0:19:20
-She's made the most -of her opportunities...	0:19:21	0:19:23
-..and compensation money...	0:19:23	0:19:25
-..to make a new life for herself.	0:19:26	0:19:28
-Not everyone -has benefited like Lan.	0:19:32	0:19:34
-Many older people -can't, or won't, embrace...	0:19:38	0:19:41
-..the retraining schemes -they are offered.	0:19:41	0:19:44
-After farming the land -throughout their lives...	0:19:45	0:19:47
-..it's hard -to readjust to city life.	0:19:48	0:19:50
-Even those who have benefited -from the change...	0:19:52	0:19:55
-..find it difficult -to forget the old times.	0:19:55	0:19:58
-I do miss my old home.	0:19:59	0:20:02
-I can't forget the days when I used -to farm and run the old tavern.	0:20:02	0:20:07
-It was a pleasant life.	0:20:07	0:20:10
-People's homes are not the only -things washed away under the river.	0:20:17	0:20:22
-Their heritage has also disappeared.	0:20:24	0:20:27
-The area around the Yangtze was -once home to ancient Asian empires.	0:20:33	0:20:38
-The river has always been -an important boundary...	0:20:42	0:20:45
-..and the location -of many historic battles.	0:20:45	0:20:49
-There's a wealth -of dynastic architecture here...	0:20:50	0:20:54
-..with beautiful temples -built along the river.	0:20:54	0:20:57
-When water levels -started to rise behind the dam...	0:21:02	0:21:06
-..the Government -decided to finance a vast project...	0:21:06	0:21:10
-..to preserve -the most important buildings.	0:21:10	0:21:14
-They were moved, piece by piece, -to new locations...	0:21:15	0:21:18
-..far enough from the river.	0:21:18	0:21:20
-I initially thought that moving -a beautiful building...	0:21:23	0:21:27
-..to make way for the reservoir -would be a travesty.	0:21:27	0:21:31
-But don't we do exactly the same -in Wales at St Fagan's?	0:21:31	0:21:36
-We move and reconstruct buildings -in a fake village outside Cardiff.	0:21:36	0:21:40
-Normally, buildings are -moved to make way for new roads.	0:21:40	0:21:44
-The Yangtze is nothing more -than a huge road.	0:21:44	0:21:48
-It was impossible -to save the most ancient relics.	0:21:54	0:21:57
-They were fastened to the land -that would be submerged.	0:21:58	0:22:01
-Before building the dam...	0:22:06	0:22:08
-..the Government commissioned -and archaeological survey.	0:22:08	0:22:12
-Pe Jian coordinated the project -in Wushan.	0:22:13	0:22:17
-He's taking me -along the River Daning...	0:22:18	0:22:21
-..one of the Yangtze's tributaries.	0:22:21	0:22:24
-It flows through the so-called -Lesser Three Gorges.	0:22:25	0:22:28
-This is where Jiang -has concentrated his research.	0:22:31	0:22:34
-His main area of interest -is the Ba people...	0:22:36	0:22:39
-..the people who lived on -the steep slopes along the river...	0:22:39	0:22:43
-..some 2,000 years ago.	0:22:43	0:22:45
-Evidence of the Ba's culture -can be seen in the rocks...	0:22:46	0:22:50
-..high above the river.	0:22:51	0:22:53
-Here we are - on the River Daning.	0:22:54	0:22:57
-We can see a coffin, -high up there in the rock.	0:22:57	0:23:02
-No-one knows how the Ba managed to -place the coffins in the rockface...	0:23:06	0:23:11
-..and no-one knows why they did so.	0:23:11	0:23:13
-There are two explanations.	0:23:16	0:23:19
-The first is that the Ba descendants -wanted to honour their forefathers.	0:23:19	0:23:24
-They buried their bodies -in elevated places.	0:23:25	0:23:28
-The second explanation is that they -did this to prevent damage or theft.	0:23:28	0:23:33
-The Ba never imagined -that the river, and not thieves...	0:23:38	0:23:42
-..would become the greatest threat -to these coffins.	0:23:42	0:23:46
-When water levels -started to rise in 1998...	0:23:49	0:23:52
-..experts started to learn more -about the Ba's traditions.	0:23:52	0:23:56
-But this wasn't enough -to prevent water levels rising.	0:23:59	0:24:03
-Some of the coffins were rescued -and transported to museums...	0:24:05	0:24:09
-..but many more -have been washed away.	0:24:09	0:24:12
-Over 1,000 archaeological sites -have disappeared underwater.	0:24:13	0:24:18
-For locals, -the unique culture of this area...	0:24:26	0:24:30
-..is more important -than ever before.	0:24:30	0:24:33
-As the fertile land along -the riverbanks is submerged...	0:24:34	0:24:38
-..local farmers -have lost their livelihood too.	0:24:38	0:24:42
-The Government believes -that tourism is the answer.	0:24:45	0:24:48
-They use the area's unique history -to attract visitors.	0:24:49	0:24:52
-One of the most popular trips -is on a traditional boat.	0:25:00	0:25:03
-Before creating -the Three Gorges Dam...	0:25:14	0:25:17
-..the Daning was too shallow for -heavy boats during the dry season.	0:25:17	0:25:23
-Men known as trackers...	0:25:24	0:25:26
-..would pull boats -through the shallowest waters...	0:25:26	0:25:30
-..using only a rope -and human strength.	0:25:30	0:25:33
-Today, tourists like me -are happily pay...	0:25:39	0:25:42
-..to experience -some of the old way of life.	0:25:42	0:25:44
-Back on the Yangtze, a new China -is taking over from the old one.	0:25:47	0:25:52
-A China full of large cities -and relentless growth.	0:25:52	0:25:56
-Towns and cities -are growing at breakneck speed.	0:26:03	0:26:06
-The Yangtze -feeds this social change.	0:26:07	0:26:10
-Some people welcome the change.	0:26:14	0:26:16
-Others battle to keep up.	0:26:18	0:26:21
-As does the river itself.	0:26:23	0:26:25
-.	0:26:25	0:26:25
-400 miles further up the Yangtze...	0:26:38	0:26:41
-..at the far end -of the Three Gorges Dam...	0:26:41	0:26:44
-..is the flourishing city -of Chongqing.	0:26:44	0:26:47
-During the past 10 years, -this city had doubled in size.	0:26:50	0:26:55
-Its population has also doubled.	0:26:56	0:26:58
-Before arriving, -I knew nothing of Chongqing.	0:27:00	0:27:03
-It's the fastest growing city -in the world.	0:27:03	0:27:06
-It's growing so fast, no-one knows -how many people live here...	0:27:07	0:27:12
-..but estimates put the figure -at 30 million people.	0:27:13	0:27:15
-The city map has to be -republished every three months.	0:27:18	0:27:22
-Chongqing's growth is part -of China's Western Development...	0:27:28	0:27:32
-..a Government-backed scheme -to boost the country's heartland.	0:27:32	0:27:37
-As well as investing -in bridges, road and dams...	0:27:39	0:27:43
-..the Government has to create -24 million new jobs every year...	0:27:43	0:27:48
-..to keep the population in work.	0:27:48	0:27:51
-A successful economy -helps the Government...	0:27:53	0:27:56
-..justify drowning all the homes -to make room for the dam.	0:27:56	0:27:59
-Yin Mingshan is at -the forefront of these developments.	0:28:10	0:28:14
-He runs the Lifan Sedan factory.	0:28:14	0:28:17
-The factory employs 9,000 workers -and a 500 million turnover a year.	0:28:18	0:28:23
-Mingshan is proud of the vehicles -that roll off the production line.	0:28:28	0:28:33
-These motorbikes and cars...	0:28:33	0:28:35
-..have safeguarded his place -on China's Top 30 rich list.	0:28:35	0:28:40
-We make cars and motorbikes here.	0:28:42	0:28:45
-Vehicles from Lifan are sold -to 128 countries across the world.	0:28:45	0:28:50
-You can even buy Lifan motorbikes -in America.	0:28:50	0:28:54
-The Three Gorges Dam -is one of the main reasons...	0:29:00	0:29:04
-..for the success of this factory -in Chongqing.	0:29:04	0:29:07
-Mingshan relies on the trade route -of the Yangtze...	0:29:08	0:29:12
-..to export his vehicles.	0:29:12	0:29:14
-Before the dam was built...	0:29:15	0:29:17
-..container ships could only reach -Chongqing during the wet season...	0:29:17	0:29:22
-..when the Yangtze flowed -deep and fast through the city.	0:29:22	0:29:26
-Today, the dam, -and its floodgate system...	0:29:26	0:29:29
-..makes it possible for ships -to enter and leave Chongqing...	0:29:29	0:29:33
-..throughout the year.	0:29:33	0:29:35
-The main benefit of the Yangtze -is its convenience for ships.	0:29:36	0:29:40
-Exporting along the river -is very, very cheap.	0:29:41	0:29:44
-Before the dam was built...	0:29:46	0:29:48
-..Chongqing's electric supply -was very unstable.	0:29:48	0:29:52
-So much so that power -was rationed at the factory.	0:29:52	0:29:55
-There was a campaign to stop -using electricity for three days...	0:29:59	0:30:04
-..to ensure -we had a supply for four days.	0:30:04	0:30:07
-That problem was solved -by the Three Gorges Dam.	0:30:07	0:30:11
-Today, the hydropower -generated by the dam...	0:30:14	0:30:17
-..has helped create a buzz -in Chongqing.	0:30:17	0:30:20
-At night, it's obvious that there's -a plentiful supply of electricity.	0:30:23	0:30:27
-Looking around, you'd swear that -everyone was doing rather well.	0:30:27	0:30:32
-Don't be deceived by the lights.	0:30:33	0:30:36
-Between the busy port -and the city's trade centre...	0:30:44	0:30:47
-..is Qiansimen, -where the bang bang live and work.	0:30:47	0:30:51
-The 100,000 porters carry the -city's weight on their shoulders.	0:30:52	0:30:58
-The bang bang form part -of the 500,000 people...	0:31:03	0:31:07
-..who move from the countryside -to Chongqing every year.	0:31:07	0:31:11
-Bang bang is the Chinese word -for bamboo.	0:31:15	0:31:18
-That's where these porters -get their name.	0:31:18	0:31:21
-Hu Shan moved to Chongqing -two years ago.	0:31:26	0:31:30
-He's been working as a bang bang -ever since.	0:31:31	0:31:34
-Despite the physical nature -of his work...	0:31:36	0:31:39
-..Shan is only paid 4 a day.	0:31:40	0:31:42
-After sending some of the money -home to his parents...	0:31:42	0:31:46
-..he supports his wife -and two children on the remainder.	0:31:47	0:31:50
-In one of the city's -poorest areas...	0:31:51	0:31:53
-..Shan shares a flat -with his sister and her family...	0:31:53	0:31:57
-..to reduce living costs.	0:31:57	0:31:59
-This is my home.	0:32:01	0:32:03
-This is the bathroom.	0:32:07	0:32:09
-This is the kitchen.	0:32:09	0:32:11
-It was hard to believe...	0:32:15	0:32:17
-..that four adults and four children -lived in these three tiny rooms.	0:32:17	0:32:22
-It's better than their -previous home in rural China.	0:32:26	0:32:29
-For Shan and his family...	0:32:30	0:32:31
-..this is the first step -towards a brighter future.	0:32:31	0:32:34
-I travelled over 200kms -to reach Chongqing.	0:32:38	0:32:42
-Initially, -I did this to earn a living.	0:32:42	0:32:46
-Now, we're here to provide -a better future for our children.	0:32:47	0:32:51
-The bang bang are an example -of how ordinary people...	0:32:56	0:33:00
-..are adapting -and succeeding in today's China.	0:33:00	0:33:04
-Very few of them realize -that the increase in trade...	0:33:06	0:33:10
-..which attracted them -to Chongqing...	0:33:11	0:33:13
-..is poisoning the river -they depend on.	0:33:14	0:33:16
-Chongqing is just one of dozens -of cities along the Yangtze.	0:33:23	0:33:28
-These built-up areas -are producing...	0:33:28	0:33:31
-..a lot of domestic -and industrial waste.	0:33:31	0:33:34
-A high percentage of it -is released straight into the river.	0:33:34	0:33:38
-When the Three Gorges Dam was built, -the situation deteriorated.	0:33:40	0:33:45
-The economic boom that followed -the construction of the dam...	0:33:48	0:33:52
-..has increased the pollution levels -of cities such as Chongqing.	0:33:52	0:33:57
-Millions of tonnes of waste -pours into the Yangtze every year.	0:33:58	0:34:04
-In the past, people believed -the Yangtze was too big to pollute.	0:34:07	0:34:12
-Any waste was washed away -by the strong current.	0:34:12	0:34:16
-The reservoir created by the Three -Gorges Dam has altered the current.	0:34:18	0:34:22
-The pace of the water on the -river's surface has increased...	0:34:26	0:34:30
-..but the underlying current -has dropped to almost nothing.	0:34:30	0:34:35
-Today, the river doesn't -carry waste away from the city.	0:34:35	0:34:39
-The waste gathers behind the dam.	0:34:40	0:34:42
-A polluted Yangtze could have an -adverse effect on people's health.	0:34:46	0:34:51
-This river and its tributaries...	0:34:54	0:34:57
-..provides drinking water for -1 in 15 of the world's population.	0:34:57	0:35:01
-Pollution isn't the only threat -triggered by the dam.	0:35:06	0:35:10
-As the river flows away -from Chongqing...	0:35:13	0:35:16
-..towards the East China Sea...	0:35:16	0:35:18
-..the effect of the new developments -become far more apparent.	0:35:19	0:35:23
-For the final part of my journey, -I leave Chongqing...	0:35:24	0:35:28
-..and travel east -towards the estuary in Shanghai.	0:35:28	0:35:32
-While my journey between the cities -is trouble-free...	0:35:32	0:35:37
-..the course of the river -is far more troubled.	0:35:37	0:35:40
-A third of the way -between Chongqing and the sea...	0:35:46	0:35:49
-..the Yangtze meets -the Three Gorges Dam...	0:35:49	0:35:51
-..the starting point of my journey.	0:35:52	0:35:54
-The river collides -with the dam...	0:35:56	0:35:58
-..like a car -careering towards a concrete wall.	0:35:58	0:36:01
-The current, and everything -it carries, comes to a sudden halt.	0:36:01	0:36:06
-The Chinese Government -is very proud of the dam.	0:36:14	0:36:18
-They encourage tourists to visit...	0:36:21	0:36:24
-..to marvel at -the 'New Great Wall of China'.	0:36:24	0:36:28
-During the official tour, visitors -learn about the dam's success.	0:36:33	0:36:37
-But deep in the heart -of this beast...	0:36:39	0:36:42
-..there's a very different story.	0:36:42	0:36:44
-A story about one -of the dam's greatest deficiencies.	0:36:45	0:36:49
-While the river's water -flows through the dam...	0:36:51	0:36:55
-..the same isn't true about the -rich silt carried by the current.	0:36:55	0:37:00
-The Yangtze carries -tonnes of silt in its waters.	0:37:02	0:37:05
-That silt is responsible -for the river's brown colour.	0:37:05	0:37:09
-Special silt valves -have been built in the dam's wall...	0:37:12	0:37:16
-..to ensure that the silt -can flow down the river.	0:37:17	0:37:20
-But the Yangtze -carries so much silt...	0:37:23	0:37:26
-..the system doesn't work -as it should.	0:37:26	0:37:29
-Millions of tonnes of silt remain -behind the dam walls each year.	0:37:29	0:37:34
-As the sediment increases -at the bottom of the reservoir...	0:37:35	0:37:39
-..the water level also rises.	0:37:39	0:37:41
-There's a strong likelihood -of the levels rising...	0:37:41	0:37:44
-..further upstream at Chongqing.	0:37:45	0:37:47
-The danger is so severe, -the Government has announced...	0:37:47	0:37:52
-..that it intends to move a further -2 million people to higher ground.	0:37:52	0:37:56
-Towards the end -of the river's journey...	0:38:00	0:38:02
-..the silt problem -becomes even more apparent.	0:38:02	0:38:05
-About 600 miles -downstream of the dam...	0:38:07	0:38:10
-..I reach Shanghai.	0:38:10	0:38:12
-A shiny city -at the estuary of the Yangtze...	0:38:12	0:38:15
-..Shanghai is a symbol -of China's economic growth.	0:38:16	0:38:20
-But, today, the dam threatens -to destroy the city's foundations...	0:38:21	0:38:26
-..and the wealth it generates.	0:38:26	0:38:28
-.	0:38:28	0:38:29
-Shanghai has grown, quite literally, -on the wealth of the Yangtze.	0:38:42	0:38:47
-When the river reaches the sea...	0:38:51	0:38:53
-..all the silt -that's been carried by the water...	0:38:53	0:38:57
-..gathers here in Shanghai.	0:38:57	0:38:59
-In fact, the city's foundations -have been built on this silt.	0:39:00	0:39:04
-But if that silt -doesn't flow freely to the city...	0:39:04	0:39:07
-..a huge problem is created.	0:39:07	0:39:09
-Yang Shi Lung is a geologist.	0:39:13	0:39:15
-He's leading a research project...	0:39:16	0:39:18
-..on the changing silt levels -of the Yangtze.	0:39:18	0:39:22
-He takes me to his research centre -on Chongming Island.	0:39:26	0:39:30
-To the north of Shanghai, in -the centre of the Yangtze estuary...	0:39:31	0:39:36
-..this island was formed -on a bed of silt.	0:39:36	0:39:39
-Fifty years ago, this area -was submerged in water.	0:39:43	0:39:46
-There were no plants here.	0:39:46	0:39:48
-This area has grown -because of the Yangtze's silt.	0:39:48	0:39:52
-When the silt levels rose, -plants started to grow.	0:39:52	0:39:56
-Today, the Chongming wetlands -form a conservation area...	0:40:00	0:40:04
-..with a wide variety of wildlife.	0:40:04	0:40:07
-The island provides a respite -for birds migrating north.	0:40:08	0:40:13
-It's a crucial nursery -for fish and wetland animals.	0:40:13	0:40:18
-Very few wetlands along the Yangtze -have been earmarked for nature.	0:40:22	0:40:26
-In Shanghai, concrete structures -dominate the landscape.	0:40:26	0:40:31
-As China's economic capital, -Shanghai is growing rapidly.	0:40:38	0:40:44
-It's one of the most populated areas -on the planet.	0:40:44	0:40:48
-Building plots here are some -of the most expensive in the world.	0:40:48	0:40:53
-The city has twice -as many skyscrapers as New York.	0:40:53	0:40:57
-The Government hopes the river -will continue to add silt...	0:41:00	0:41:04
-..to the coastline to allow -the city to grow further.	0:41:04	0:41:07
-But there is a vital flaw -in this plan - a shortage of silt.	0:41:08	0:41:12
-Since the construction -of the Three Gorges Dam...	0:41:15	0:41:18
-..our research shows that around -140 million tonnes of silt...	0:41:19	0:41:23
-..were trapped in the dam -each year between 2003 and 2006.	0:41:23	0:41:29
-That's around 60% of -the silt content of this river.	0:41:31	0:41:35
-The silt wetlands -are in danger of disappearing...	0:41:41	0:41:45
-..since so much is retained -by the dam.	0:41:45	0:41:48
-Instead of adding -to the coastline...	0:41:52	0:41:55
-..the river is now eroding -the existing land.	0:41:55	0:41:58
-Almost three square miles of land -has disappeared to date.	0:41:59	0:42:03
-The Government -will have to build sea defences...	0:42:04	0:42:08
-..to protect the coastline.	0:42:08	0:42:10
-Land isn't the only thing -that is disappearing in Shanghai.	0:42:12	0:42:16
-Its wildlife is also dwindling.	0:42:16	0:42:18
-Here, in the market, you can see the -variety of fish caught in the river.	0:42:20	0:42:25
-80% of China's freshwater fish -is caught in the Shanghai estuary.	0:42:28	0:42:34
-It's a profitable industry providing -food for much of the population.	0:42:35	0:42:39
-Here, in the market...	0:42:44	0:42:46
-..you'd never think there was -a shortage of fish in Shanghai.	0:42:46	0:42:51
-But there is.	0:42:51	0:42:52
-In recent years, the amount of fish -caught along the Yangtze...	0:42:52	0:42:56
-..has decreased by -1 million tonnes a year.	0:42:57	0:42:59
-Over-fishing has certainly -added to the problem...	0:43:03	0:43:07
-..but the dam has also been -a contributing factor.	0:43:07	0:43:10
-Since most of the silt -is retained by the dam...	0:43:11	0:43:14
-..these wetlands, a breeding ground -for fish, are disappearing.	0:43:14	0:43:18
-With nowhere to breed, -the fish are in trouble.	0:43:20	0:43:23
-Changes in silt levels also affect -the river's fragile ecosystem.	0:43:27	0:43:31
-Silt feeds the plankton which is -an important part of the food chain.	0:43:32	0:43:37
-Tests have shown -that a reduction in silt levels...	0:43:39	0:43:42
-..affects the number and variety -of plankton that grows in the water.	0:43:42	0:43:47
-Some groups of plankton are -disappearing while others flourish.	0:43:48	0:43:53
-This could have -a disastrous effect on fish...	0:43:53	0:43:56
-..that depend -on a particular kind of plankton.	0:43:56	0:43:59
-The biggest threat to the Yangtze -may come from trade developments.	0:44:02	0:44:08
-The new lock system -at the Three Gorges Dam...	0:44:12	0:44:15
-..has made it easier -to navigate the waters.	0:44:16	0:44:18
-Traffic on the river -has increased dramatically.	0:44:19	0:44:22
-Shanghai is now the busiest port -in the world.	0:44:25	0:44:28
-The increase in ships is a danger to -everything which lives in the river.	0:44:31	0:44:36
-It's obvious why wildlife -would suffer in the Yangtze.	0:44:39	0:44:43
-Imagine being a creature -trying to survive in this water.	0:44:43	0:44:47
-Trying to cross the river with this -traffic is like playing chicken.	0:44:47	0:44:52
-The combination of losing silt -deposits and industrial growth...	0:44:55	0:44:59
-..has prompted the Government to ban -fishing on some parts of the river.	0:44:59	0:45:05
-Even where fishing is permitted...	0:45:08	0:45:11
-..only a few fish -are caught these days.	0:45:11	0:45:14
-Fish that were once common -in these waters...	0:45:18	0:45:21
-..are in danger of only being seen -in museums in the future.	0:45:21	0:45:25
-One fish -which is about to become extinct...	0:45:28	0:45:32
-..is the river's sturgeon.	0:45:32	0:45:34
-Measuring up to four metres in -length and weighing half a tonne...	0:45:35	0:45:40
-..this huge fish was once -a regular source of nourishment.	0:45:40	0:45:45
-Since the dam was built, -sturgeon numbers have dwindled.	0:45:47	0:45:51
-To stave off the -possible extinction of this fish...	0:45:54	0:45:57
-..the Government has introduced -a conservation project.	0:45:58	0:46:02
-Some wetland areas have -become nurseries for the sturgeon.	0:46:02	0:46:07
-Fishermen have to release...	0:46:13	0:46:15
-..any sturgeon they catch -back to the water.	0:46:15	0:46:18
-Experts fear that this -is too little too late.	0:46:20	0:46:25
-The sturgeon may well face -the same fate as the baiji dolphins.	0:46:27	0:46:32
-In December 2006, -this unique creature...	0:46:32	0:46:36
-..disappeared from the Yangtze.	0:46:36	0:46:38
-The disappearance of the baiji -and the drop in fish numbers...	0:46:42	0:46:46
-..proves that the health -of the Yangtze hangs in the balance.	0:46:46	0:46:50
-In Shanghai, -you can see how man's influence...	0:46:53	0:46:57
-..has adversely affected the river.	0:46:57	0:47:00
-As it reaches the end -of its journey across China...	0:47:03	0:47:07
-..the Yangtze reaches -an important crossroads.	0:47:07	0:47:10
-The Three Gorges Dam has produced -clean energy and prosperity...	0:47:15	0:47:18
-..along every bend in its path.	0:47:19	0:47:21
-It has also generated commercial -growth that the river can't sustain.	0:47:23	0:47:29
-Now that the trend has been set...	0:47:33	0:47:35
-..it's difficult to see how China -can allay this poisonous growth.	0:47:35	0:47:40
-The story of the Yangtze -is a perfect example...	0:47:53	0:47:57
-..of how man -has tried to control nature.	0:47:58	0:48:00
-Would I have built the dam? No.	0:48:00	0:48:02
-There again, I don't govern China.	0:48:02	0:48:05
-I'm not responsible for the -millions of people who live here.	0:48:05	0:48:09
-But it's there now, and the only -thing the Chinese can do...	0:48:09	0:48:13
-..is learn to live with it -and hope for the best.	0:48:13	0:48:16
-Remember that demand for electricity -in China rises every day.	0:48:18	0:48:22
-Plans are afoot to build more dams -along the River Yangtze.	0:48:23	0:48:27
-The wealth and the future of China -depend on the Yangtze's waters.	0:48:28	0:48:33
-But what kind of future -for the river and its people?	0:48:34	0:48:38
-Who knows!	0:48:39	0:48:41
-S4C subtitles by Simian 04	0:49:18	0:49:21
-.	0:49:21	0:49:21

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