Review of the Relocation of General Zhang Fei’s Temple in View of the Three Gorges Dam Project

Abstract

As a national cultural property, General Zhang Fei’s Temple is the largest ancient architectural complex in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. It was built in the Han Dynasty and has a long history of nearly 2,000 years. In 1994, the Chinese government launched the Three Gorges Dam project at the Yangtze River and implemented the largest relocation project for the General Zhang Fei Temple to prevent it from being submerged. The temple was relocated 32 kilometers upstream along with the local people of Yunyang County, and the historic environment was rebuilt on the opposite side of the migrant city of New Yunyang County. The temple was restored successfully and the tradition of offering sacrifices to General Zhang Fei continued in the local community. The relocation project lasted for 8 years and became the largest cultural heritage conservation project of the People’s Republic of China at the end of the 20th century. This paper comprehensively summarizes and reviews the project goals, implementation process, and project highlights of this relocation, so as to provide an important case reference for heritage conservation projects in the future.