Yichang宜昌

Yichang's economy was historically tied to the Three Gorges Dam project and the chemical industry that grew around its phosphate mineral resources. In 2018, following Xi Jinping's directive to protect the Yangtze River, the city began shutting down over 100 polluting chemical plants along the riverbank. This forced a dramatic industrial pivot: Yichang is now replacing old chemical factories with photovoltaic manufacturing, advanced fine chemicals, and battery materials production. The abundant hydropower from the Three Gorges provides a cost advantage for energy-intensive industries like silicon purification and aluminum processing.