Ahai Dam and Ahai Hydropower Station in Yulong County, Lijiang

ha Hydropower Station (阿海水电站) is located on the middle reaches of the Jinsha River (金沙江), at the border between Yulong County (玉龙县) and Ninglang County (宁蒗县) in Lijiang City (丽江市), Yunnan Province (云南省). It is the fourth cascade in the “one reservoir with eight cascades” development plan recommended in the Hydropower Development Plan for the Middle Reaches of the Jinsha River (《金沙江中游河段水电规划报告》). The station mainly serves the purpose of power generation while also addressing flood control, irrigation, and other integrated uses. It is an important energy source within the Jinsha River Hydropower Base (金沙江水电基地).

Project Scale and Structures

Aha Hydropower Station (阿海水电站) is classified as a large (Type I) national-level project. Its main structures include a concrete gravity dam, surface spillways with an energy dissipation pool on the left bank, bottom outlets for flood discharge and sediment flushing, and main and auxiliary powerhouses located downstream of the dam. The dam reaches a maximum height of 130 meters, with a normal reservoir level of 1504 meters. The total reservoir capacity is 882 million cubic meters, with daily regulation capability. The station has a total installed capacity of 2 million kilowatts and an average annual power generation of 8.877 billion kilowatt-hours.

Economic and Strategic Significance

The construction of Aha Hydropower Station (阿海水电站) holds great significance for regional economic development. It not only provides abundant clean energy for Yunnan Province (云南省) but also advances the implementation of the "West-to-East Electricity Transmission" (西电东送) strategy. In addition, the station has stimulated the growth of local tourism; the reservoir it created offers favorable conditions for tourism development in the area.

Resettlement and Environmental Considerations

In terms of resettlement, Aha Hydropower Station (阿海水电站) submerged and occupied relatively small areas of arable land, resulting in a limited number of people needing relocation—an advantage for development. Its resettlement planning report was the first large-scale hydropower resettlement plan in China to be compiled in accordance with relevant regulations and standards. It has provided valuable experience for future planning and design of resettlement in large and medium-sized hydropower projects nationwide.

Harmony Between Human and Nature

The construction of Aha Hydropower Station (阿海水电站) embodies the philosophy of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Rather than representing humanity’s conquest of nature, it reflects the generous endowment from the Jinsha River (金沙江), and stands as a model of respectful and friendly utilization of natural resources. The completion of the station has not only injected strong momentum into the local economy but has also brought substantial benefits to the social development of western China, particularly to the ethnic minority areas of Yunnan Province (云南省).