 A large dam across the Yangtze River was originally envisioned by Sun Yat @-@ sen in The International Development of China , in 1919 . He stated that a dam capable of generating 30 million horsepower ( 22 GW ) was possible downstream of the Three Gorges . In 1932 , the Nationalist government , led by Chiang Kai @-@ shek , began preliminary work on plans in the Three Gorges . In 1939 , Japanese military forces occupied Yichang and surveyed the area . A design , the Otani plan , was completed for the dam in anticipation of a Japanese victory over China . 
