Abstract The Wuqiangxi Hydroelectric Power Station is located on the Yuan River in Hunan Province, Central China. Phyllitic slates (Pt 1 ) and sandstones (Pt 2 ) occurring on the left bank of the river belong to the Wuqiangxi Formation, the Shangbanxi Group of Pre-Sinian. The slope is intersected by a number of major faults, and rocks are intensely weathered. These factors make the engineering geological situation there unfavorable to the ship lock slope stability. The ship lock slope is threatened under landslides during deep excavation involved in the construction. In order to prevent the excavation of the slope and pouring concrete from failing, a technique of the Monitoring-Control in Design for Geotechnical Engineering (MCGE) was proposed and developed. Consequently, the slope passed smoothly through the excavation and afterward construction stages. This proves that the technique suggested is reasonable and applicable.