In October I took one of the luxury river voyages, Yiching to Chongqing, through the famous Three Gorges section and the five-stage lock (the shiplift has not yet been built).
Before the dam, the river was restricted to boats of 1500 t and was seasonal; now it allows boats of 10 000 t all year.
I saw no evidence anywhere of the river ever have been used by paddleboats, despite being having restricted draft.

Enclosed: two photos not of paddlers.

I was travelling on President 2, which was typical of the cruising boats.  There must be about 40 of them.
The other is entering the first of the five-stage locks, and the only one which shows the step effect of the five.  There are two parallel sets.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

After the images of the stricken Italian Cruise Ship I have to admire your pluck in travelling on a top heavy looking craft.