TRAVEL packages to the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in Yichang, Central China's Hubei Province, have seen a spurt in popularity in Shenzhen after the world's largest hydroelectric project was completed Saturday (May 20).

Most local travel services were quoted by the Daily Sunshine yesterday as saying that the new dam has sparked great interest among Shenzheners, and calls from residents inquiring about group tours to the destination have been flooding in recently.

A Miss Xu, who signed up for a group tour at a Comfort Shenzhen branch, told the newspaper she was anxious to go to the dam after seeing it on TV. "It was so gorgeous," she said.

The China Travel Service Shenzhen branch said a four-day trip to the Three Gorges costs between 3,000 (US$375) and 4,000 yuan.

The agency's first group to Yichang leaves Monday, and it will arrange tours every weekend from now.

The agency estimated that the number of visitors going to the area will be twice the number last year.

Most travel agencies offer three tour itineraries, one downstream from Chongqing Municipality to Yichang, which usually takes four days, and another upstream, which takes five days. The third option is Yichang-Fengjie (in Chongqing) -Yichang, which covers the three most famous gorges - Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge.

The best time to visit the Three Gorges Dam is between July and August, when people can enjoy the splendid scene of water sluicing, according to travel agencies.

Reports said the dam, which is 2,309 meters long and 185 meters above sea level, has the world's largest water discharge capacity.

From July 1 to Sept. 30 each year, the top of the dam opens to tourists, from where they can get the best view, a Daily Sunshine report said yesterday.

Tourists will be confined to a certain area on the top of the dam, and are not allowed to take video cameras, umbrellas or beverages with them. They are allowed a 30-minute stay at the top.

Editor: Wing