Chongjiang River and Hydra Power Station in Shangri-La, Diqing
Overview
Chongjiang River (冲江河) is a river in the Yangtze River (长江) basin of China, flowing into the right bank of the Jinsha River (金沙江) and belonging to its river system. The river is 48 kilometers long, with a watershed area of 1,030 square kilometers and an average annual flow of 13 cubic meters per second. It has a natural drop of 1,704 meters and a theoretical hydropower potential of 80,000 kilowatts.
Travel Information
- Recommended Visit Duration: 1-3 hours
- Location: Shangri-La City (香格里拉市), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省)
Transportation
- By Car:
- Start from Shenquan Lane (神泉巷)
- Follow the Huancheng South Road (环城南路)
- Continue on National Road 214 (214国道) until you reach your destination.
Hydropower Station Details
Phase One of Chongjiang River Power Station
The Chongjiang River Power Station is the fifth station in the “One Reservoir, Eight Levels” hydropower project of the Shuo Duo Gang River (硕多岗河). The first phase began construction in 1985 and was put into operation in 1990. The station uses a river diversion method with a concrete dam. The water diversion tunnel is 2.5 kilometers long, with an inflow capacity of 12 cubic meters per second.
- Initial Installed Capacity: 18.9 MW, with three 6.3 MW mixed-flow units.
- Capacity Upgrade: In 1999, an upgrade increased the total capacity to 22.3 MW.
- Utilization Hours: Achieved 6,500 hours of use per year.
- Current Status: After acquisition in December 2003, significant renovations have improved equipment conditions.
Phase Two of Chongjiang River Power Station
The second phase of the Chongjiang River Power Station is located on the middle and lower reaches of the Shuo Duo Gang River, in the Huzhuoxia Town (虎跳峡镇) of Shangri-La County (香格里拉县), previously known as Zhongdian County (中甸县). National Road 214 (下关—香格里拉段) runs through the construction area.
- Distance from Key Locations:
- Kunming: 565.9 km
- Shangri-La County Town: 74.1 km
- Dali: 228.9 km
Main Facilities
The Chongjiang River (Expansion) Hydropower Station focuses solely on electricity generation.
- Reservoir Normal Water Level: 2,470 m
- Reservoir Capacity: 236,000 cubic meters (effective capacity: 193,700 cubic meters)
- Installed Capacity: 48 MW
- Guaranteed Output: 257,000 kW (for the Chongjiang River series)
- Average Annual Power Generation: 174.75 million kWh
The construction of the expansion project, which started in October 2003, faced challenging geological conditions. Over nearly 30 months, the project achieved its goal of commissioning the power units.
- Unit Commissioning: The 4th unit began trial operation on April 26, 2006, and the 5th unit followed on April 29, 2006. After a successful ten-day operation test, the transition to full operation was completed on May 9, 2006.
- Current Equipment Status: The main equipment is reported to be in good health and reliable.
How to Get There
- By Car: Utilize National Road 214, following directions from your starting point to reach the hydropower station in Shangri-La.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Consider visiting during the warmer months for the best weather conditions.
- Safety Precautions: Be cautious near the river and power station, as construction zones may have safety restrictions.
- Local Amenities: Ensure to bring necessary supplies, as facilities might be limited in remote areas.
- Respect the Environment: Keep the area clean and follow local regulations to preserve the natural beauty of the region.
