Yichang, the city in Hubei province that hosts both the Three Gorges and Gezhouba dams, has vowed to invest Rmb8.2bn in terminal and waterway projects in the five years to 2015 to turn the city into a regional hub.

Most vessels sailing from upstream locations need to lighten in Yichang in order to safely pass the low water levels of the middle reaches of the river, particularly in the dry season. L’Oreal is one of the major multinational companies located in the city.