Approximately 1,400 archeological sites were destroyed by the reservoir water, and the overall appearance of the Three Gorges changed.

Many exhibits were either destroyed or partially damaged. There were many relics that were impossible to move, such as the Shen Nong Gorge Hanging Coffins–an ancient burial site in the Hubei Province. The ancient towns of Guizhou, Kuizhou and Wushan were completely flooded.