For years, human innovation has shaped the planet in profound ways. From skyscrapers piercing the clouds to vast man-made reservoirs, our engineering feats are awe-inspiring. Yet, some projects ...

For more than two months, the city of Wuhan, China, was sealed off from the outside world. Flights in and out were canceled. Train and bus routes were suspended. Highway entrances were blocked.

Next comes Wuhan, which boasts the third-century Xiang Pagoda. And then there's the Three Gorges Dam, China's 21st-century moment. The dam is an engineering colossus—more than 600 feet high and ...