Three Gorges Dam (TGD), which was firstly planned by Sun Yat-sen, brought many social changes to its neighboring areas. Some people opposed and are still opposing the construction plan of the TGD, especially through internet, because of coercive resettlement due to inundation, assumed unsafeness of the Dam and some ecological transformations. However, the Dam was finally completed in 2009.
This article tries to analyze some social changes brought by TGD and its symbolic meaning in the context of modern Chinese society. TGD has produced at least 1.2million immigrants, who are facing many problems in their resettlement process. Depending on their own situation, people made various meanings upon TGD. Especially, subject actors concerning the Dam emphasized the role of science and technology, regardless of whether proponent to the Dam or not. TGD can be said to be a part of modernization process of China, for it is a construction symbolizing changes of attitude to the nature on the basis of confidence in the techno-scientific progress. In brief, TGD is a place with symbolic construction of different meanings and power relationship.