A thousand kilometers upstream from the Three Gorges Project, China continues to throw up hydropower stations on the Yangtze.

Construction began Sunday on the 6-million kw Xiangjiaba hydropower facility, the second on this section of the Yangtze after earthworks began on the Xiluodu project last year.

The section of the Yangtze that flows between Yushu in Qinghai Province and Yibin in Sichuan Province is often called the Jinsha River and, before long, it will be dotted with hydropower developments.

Jinsha means golden sand in Chinese, and the Jinsha River is said to have produced "golden sand" since ancient times.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Sunday, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan emphasized the need to consider all aspects of the Xiangjiaba development, including its impact on sustainable development.

Hydroelectric projects need to be managed in an orderly manner, residents forced to relocate need to be properly looked after, the environment needs to be protected and thought given to preventing and controlling natural disasters, said Zeng.