The Three Gorges ship lift is the largest and the most difficult one in the world with the characteristics of large lifting weight, high lift range, big fluctuation of water stage between upper and lower reaches and quick variation of navigable water level. After scheme comparison, the gear rack climbing type ship lift is selected, which is characterized by complicated structure of facilities and high precision requirements of manufacture, installation and construction. Meanwhile the Sino German co design method is first adopted. The general layout of gear rack climbing type ship lift, as well as the design schemes and key techniques of tower structure and important equipment are briefly introduced.