After four decades, the first thousand-ton ship lock is set to deliver a better life right to the doorsteps of local residents, with the CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company leading the construction of the Fujiang Three Gorges Ship Lock Project.

Morning mist gently hangs over the banks of the Fujiang River, as the flowing waters meander past shallow shores. A smooth temporary road stretches along the riverbank, and this seemingly quiet stretch of land quietly holds a water transport aspiration that the people of Suining, Sichuan, have nurtured for forty years.

The name Suining, derived from the phrase "wishes fulfilled and peace attained," reflects its deep cultural roots. This small city in central Sichuan thrives on its connection to water, situated in the heart of the Sichuan Basin, with the Fujiang River winding through it like a jade ribbon. Historically, it served as a vital hub for both land and water routes. Yet, this long-standing advantage of riverside prosperity has been interrupted for decades.

The Fujiang River was once a key waterway for Sichuan. However, as channel conditions deteriorated over recent decades, the river's shipping industry suffered a severe blow, and long-distance freight transport completely disappeared from the cargo market. Surrounded by mountains and cut off from navigable waters, Suining—despite possessing the largest inland river in central Sichuan—failed to leverage its flowing resource to stimulate the local economy. It wasn't until Sichuan Province launched the Fujiang River navigation restoration project that Suining finally seized the opportunity to realize its dream. This "golden waterway," idled for forty years, has now rekindled hope for the city's development.

On December 29, 2025, the roar of excavators shattered years of silence over the river. At the junction of Pengxi County in Suining and Tongnan District in Chongqing Municipality, the construction site of the CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Fujiang Three Gorges Ship Lock project buzzed with activity, with machinery running in an orderly fashion across all work zones. This marks not only the first major water transport project since Suining's establishment as a city 40 years ago, but also the province's first high-grade waterway project spanning both Sichuan and Chongqing.

By the water's edge, Deputy Project Manager Guo Zhifeng excitedly patted the shoulder of Safety Director Wan Tao: "Once this ship lock is completed, thousand-ton vessels will be able to sail directly from Suining to Chongqing and Shanghai. Suining's dream of resuming navigation is about to become a reality." The construction flags fluttered in the river breeze, and the damp air, carrying the hopes of Suining's residents, swept over the tall cofferdams, heralding a new blueprint for this small city to connect with the outside world.

As summer arrived, the Fujiang Three Gorges Ship Lock project entered a bustling phase. From dawn to dusk, the project team raced against time to capitalize on the dry season for construction, leaving no room for complacency. In just five months since breaking ground, over 80% of the ship lock foundation excavation has been completed, with 25,593 cubic meters of concrete already poured for the lock chamber and upper lock head. This pivotal project, tasked with breaking through the bottleneck of the "clear flow of one river" navigation restoration, is rapidly taking shape on the soil of Suizhou.

Just as the project was progressing steadily, an urgent rescue operation suddenly erupted in a race against time. At 5:30 a.m. on April 28, torrential rain hammered down, the droplets crackling against safety helmets. A night shift watchman's flashlight beam pierced the rain curtain—inside the lock chamber foundation pit, murky water was rising alarmingly fast, flooding over the work surface. "The drainage can't keep up!" the watchman urgently grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Quick! Immediately activate the flood control emergency plan. All 5 existing pumps are running at full capacity, add 3 more, and report to General Guo and General Wan right away!" The rain drowned out his voice, yet the water continued to surge. Eight pumps roared simultaneously, but it felt like throwing pebbles into the sea. "Sir, the lock chamber pit is completely flooded and still rising. Even with all 8 pumps going, we can't hold it back—the rain is too heavy!" Within half an hour, Guo Zhifeng and Wan Tao rushed to the scene, soaked to the bone. "Add more pumps, the 18.5 kW unit needs to be in place now!" Guo Zhifeng stepped into mud that swallowed his calves, remaining calm and directing operations effectively. "Everyone, pay attention—all equipment must be evacuated by 7 a.m. Two crawler cranes, two truck cranes, and two aerial work platforms, all out. No junction boxes or gas cylinders can be left behind!" "The main power lines must be relocated immediately to the elevated distribution box on the fishway platform, and warning signs must be placed along the entire route to prevent accidental contact!" Safety Director Wan Tao's voice was nearly torn apart by the storm, "Hurry, the water is still rising!" By 7 a.m., the last aerial work platform exited the pit. By 8 a.m., four additional 15 kW pumps were deployed as reinforcements—13 units working in concert to pump out the floodwater, finally curbing the rise. "Bring in the excavator, cut an opening at the end of the cofferdam right away to divert the stream water into the river, and under no circumstances allow backflow!" Guo Zhifeng pointed sharply at the distant gully, missing no detail. The murky water rushed through the newly cut opening into the Fujiang River, and the water level gradually receded. As night fell and a cool breeze set in, the rain finally began to ease. By this time, it was 10 p.m., and their work clothes were wringing wet, their pant legs caked with mud, yet no one paused to change into dry clothes—everyone stayed by the pit, monitoring the water level. Slowly, as the work surface reemerged, Guo Zhifeng and Wan Tao, ignoring the exhaustion of over a dozen hours, joined the team in picking up tools to inspect the cofferdam slopes, clear blocked drainage channels, and verify the safety of every piece of equipment, ensuring no hidden risks remained. By 3 a.m., the drainage and rescue operation was essentially complete. Guo Zhifeng finally let out a long sigh, rubbed his sore lower back, and exchanged a knowing smile with the mud-spattered Wan Tao beside him. In this hard-fought battle, the project team, leveraging a well-established emergency response plan, acted swiftly and decisively, weathering every test and minimizing the storm's impact to the greatest extent possible.

Meanwhile, even as the intense rescue unfolded during the night, by daytime on the fishway platform, construction continued in an orderly fashion—crawler cranes carried out beam placement as usual, and concrete pouring never paused for a second. This flood control "defensive battle" ultimately achieved zero losses in personnel and equipment, with project progress maintaining zero delays.

Sunrise broke through, and the storm passed, leaving clear skies. Before the mud on the construction site had even dried, members of the "Neighborhood Co-building Team" arrived with tools in hand. This team of six was anything but ordinary—each member was a villager from nearby communities, specifically organized by the project department as a civilized construction crew. On regular days, they handled cleaning the site roads, organizing barriers, and covering exposed soil. After the day-and-night rainstorm rescue, the roads were covered in mud, drainage ditches were clogged, barrier edges had been loosened by the fierce winds, and a large portion of the slope dust-proof netting had fallen off. When it came time for cleanup, they were the first to step up. "Aunt Jiang, take two women to sweep the access road and wash the mud off—don't let vehicles track it out and dirty the village paths," said Uncle Chen, the leader and a local himself, speaking with a thick regional accent. "Old Tang, you and Old Li and Old Shi, go straighten the barriers that got knocked crooked. Nail them down tight where needed." Picking up trash, sweeping roads, clearing ditches, and repairing barriers—the site, which had been thrown into disarray by the storm, was quickly restored to its usual clean and orderly state. The villagers wielded their hoes, wiping sweat from their brows, and no one complained or asked for time off. "This is our river at our doorstep, our construction site at our doorstep. A little dirt and fatigue are nothing—it's all work for our own front yard," Uncle Chen's words were deeply moving. They had long come to regard the ship lock project as a great cause for their hometown, with everyone hoping that this river, silent for decades, would once again carry large vessels, transporting local specialties out into the world and bringing new opportunities back in.

Over time, this locally-sourced crew evolved into a "lubricant" for resolving conflicts between the village and the company, serving as a "bridge" between the project department and the residents. When the project first began, riverside villagers harbored strong resistance: dump trucks raising dust during early morning and evening passages, and noisy nighttime machinery operations disturbed residents, leading many to privately block vehicles. Project managers, unfamiliar with local conditions and village customs, often hit dead ends in communication. But Uncle Chen, Aunt Jiang, and other native locals, understanding the villagers' concerns, took the initiative to build a two-way channel of communication—on one hand, they persuaded residents to appreciate the long-term benefits of the water transport project, and on the other, they relayed public concerns to the project department. In the end, the project team adjusted dump truck schedules, increased the frequency of water truck operations, and installed mist cannons at windy points. The aggregate processing equipment at the sand and gravel yard was also fitted with soundproof enclosures to block noise, while wastewater treatment tanks and filter presses were activated to process production wastewater and reduce discharge. With this, the major issues affecting nearby residents' daily lives were thoroughly resolved.

From mutual mistrust at the outset to mutual assistance today, the villagers gradually came to understand: this ship lock is not an external project, but a livelihood project belonging to all residents of Suining. Every river is a flowing hometown and an economic lifeline, carrying the deep aspirations of the land and connecting people's boundless hopes for a better life.

In the near future, the magnificent scene of hundreds of boats vying for passage will return to the surface of the Fujiang River. Cargo ships will carry Suining's specialty products out of the basin, heading toward broader markets. And Suining, nourished by its river waters, will ride this rising tide to open new channels for development and progress, moving toward a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow under the ceaseless flow of the river.