As one of the largest hydraulic complexes located on the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the Xiaolangdi Hydraulic Complex has played a significant role in flood protection and water-sand regulation for the downstream areas of the basin. Situated at the last canyon of the Yellow River, it is only 40 km away from the city of Luoyang, one of China ancient capitals with more than 1,000 years of history.

The Yellow River is known for its heavy sedimentation, which has resulted in a hanging river that threatens people’s lives and property in the downstream. Since the dam was completed in 1999, the Xiaolangdi reservoir has been used to regulate water and sand. By adjusting the sluice gates, operating water discharge and flow rate, soil and sand deposited in the reservoir have been discharged, in order to slow the further deposition of sand in the downstream river bed.

With a total capacity of 50.73 million m3, Xiaolangdi is China’s largest rockfill dam. The complex comprises of a large number of gates for the discharge of water and sediment, as well as a hydropower plant with 6 units and a total installed capacity of 1800mw.

Due to its unfavorable topographical and geological conditions, as well as the complicated correlation between water and sediment, the construction of Xiaolangdi is considered the most challenging in the world.

The Xiaolangdi complex has generated great social and economic benefits since becoming operational. More than 300 million tons of sediment have been washed away from the riverbed in the downstream, thanks to water-sediment regulation. It not only plays a crucial role in flood control and drought relief, but is also a key element in ensuring ecological security.

Dam Type: Rockfill dam

Height：160m

Length: 1667m

Storage Capacity: 12.65 billion m3