Hydropower is a key resource in China. In the 60 years'development since the founding of the PRC, especially the past 30 years of reform, China has been in the crucial development of hydropower resources in its western regions. The calls for a number of issues to be properly solved, such as construction management systems in project development, relocation of local populace, hydropower complex construction, environmental protection and project construction procedures are rising at the same time. Taking the hydropower development practices in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River as an example, this paper probes the issue of project management in the development of hydropower resources in western China.