ABSTRACT
In August 1949, just before the establishment of the People's Republic, a "Preliminary Report on Harnessing the Yellow River" was delivered to Dong Biwu, chairman of the North China People's Government of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). One of the report's authors, Wang Huayun, headed the Yellow River Research Group and would later serve as director of the Yellow River Commission which was charged with advising the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power on management of the river's resources. In the report, Wang asserted that there were three possible sites between Shan County and Mengjin City, Three Gate Gorge, Balihutong, and Xiaolangdi. This proposal marked the beginning of serious planning for a dam at the Three Gate Gorge. At the second plenum of the First National People's Congress in summer 1955, Deng Zihui delivered a "Report on the Summary Plan for Controlling Yellow River Floods and Opening Yellow River Irrigation Projects" on behalf of the State Council.
