Water flows out from the Baihetan dam on Friday during a flood discharge trial. The Baihetan project, extending over southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, is a 16 GW hydroelectric facility, making it the second-largest power plant after the Three Gorges Dam. Photo: VCG

The concrete double-curvature arch dam that began construction in 2017 is 289 meters high, which is equivalent to a 100-floor building. The whole project is expected to be completed in 2022. Photo: VCG

A worker inspects water storage levels at the dam on April 22. The station has an impoundment level of 825 meters and started to store water in April. Photo: Zhang Lang/China News Service, VCG

An intake of the dam can be seen on the right side of the reservoir at the plants. Photo: VCG

The No. 13 generating unit, which is composed of the generator and a turbine, goes online Monday at the hydropower station. The new unit is expected to generate power shortly. Four units have been put into operation as of Thursday. Photo: VCG

A worker checks out components of a generating unit at the underground powerhouse of the station on April 27. Photo: VCG

A worker installs a generating unit at the station on March 2. Photo: VCG

A total of 16 hydropower generating units will be installed at the station. Photo: VCG

Workers install a water pipeline at the station in November 2018. Photo: VCG

Workers adjust a machine that is used for constructing the station in November 2018 at the underground tunnel of the station. Photo: VCG

Workers stand on the dam of the hydropower station on April 24. Photo: VCG

Workers pour concrete at the construction site of the station on May 30. The concrete volume exceeded four million cubic meters in August. Photo: VCG

Workers work at the construction site of the dam on April 23. Photo: Zhang Lang/China News Service, VCG

The dam is lit up at night in September 2020. The government approved the Baihetan project in 2010. Photo: VCG