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Landscape of Jinsha River or Jinshajiang River, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (Yangtse River or Changjiang) through the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiaoxia or Hutiao Gorge) in southwest Chinas Yunnan province A top Yunnan official has strongly hinted that a controversial plan to dam the world-famous Tiger Leaping Gorge may be scrapped, citing strong public opposition and environmental concerns. Yunnan has insisted on damming the Jinsha River, saying it was essential for a 50 billion yuan (US$7.03 billion) canal project to divert water from the river to quench the thirst of the provinces central region - including the provincial capital, Kunming - and flush the polluted Dianchi Lake. The alternative site is in a Tibetan-populated area at Qizong, Weixi county. (KEYSTONE/CHINAIMAGES/Liu liqun)