Nature
Ertan Dam & Hydroelectric Station
One of China's largest hydroelectric dams, creating a massive reservoir surrounded by dramatic canyon walls. The visitor center explains the engineering marvel.
08:30-17:00
50 yuan
Panzhihua's recorded history dates back to the Han Dynasty, when the area was part of the ancient Southern Silk Road. The ethnic Yi people have inhabited the surrounding mountains for centuries.
The city's modern history began in 1965 when, as part of China's Third Front Construction movement, the central government selected this remote area for a strategic steel and mining complex. The city was formally established in 1965.
The Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group was built to utilize the region's rich vanadium-titanium magnetite deposits. The construction involved hundreds of thousands of workers from across China.
The Ertan Hydropower Station, completed in 1999, became one of China's largest hydroelectric projects, providing clean energy to the region.
In recent decades, Panzhihua has transformed from a single-industry steel city to a diversified economy including tourism, fruit agriculture, and clean energy. The city's sunny climate is now promoted as a tourism asset.
