The Yangtze River

The Chinese call the Yangtze River, Chang-jiang, which means "Long River".

Yangtze River is the longest river of Asia and the third longest river in the world,about 6300 km (about 3937 mile) in length.Its width can range from eight to more than 1000 meters when the water rises. It rises in the Kunlun Mountains in the southwestern section of Qinghai Province in China, and flows generally south through Sichuan Province into Yunnan Province, where, in the vicinity of Huize, it bends sharply to the northeast. Then, it flows generally northeast and east across central China through Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu Provinces to its mouth in the East China Sea, about 23 km (about 14 mi) north of Shanghai.

Yangtze River flows past 2 autonomous regions and 6 provinces totally and cuts through the heart of China while it is regarded as the division of the country into north and south geographically. The watershed area of the Yangtze River is about 700,000 square miles, approximately 20% of China's total land area, and 25% of its total farming land area. Its fertile alluvial plains produce great amounts of wheat, cotton, tobacco and silk. About 350 million people live near the Yangtze River and its 700 tributaries and the Yangtze River reaches are rich in such agricultural productions as rice, cotton, edible oil, silk, linen, tea and tobacco, of which the rice production makes up 70 percent and the cotton about one-third of the country's total respectively.

The Yangtze River reaches were one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization. Places along both sides of the river are homes to hundreds and thousands of relics and ancient architectures such as mansions, terraces and platforms, pavilions, towers, temples, gardens, stone carvings and forests of steles, which all serve as proofs of the intelligence and wisdom of the ancient Chinese people. Dangerous floods kill people and livestock living near the river.

The wet season begins in April, bringing heavy rain in the middle and lower reaches. By July and August the wet weather reaches the Sichuan Basin where the prevalence of mountainous terrain causes widespread rainfall. Then, as the water level starts to subside, the 'Sichuan waters' begin to threaten again.

With its numerous tributaries and feeders, the Yangtze provides a great transportation network through the heart of some of the most densely populated and economically important areas in China. Almost all of the boating traffic in China is on the Yangtze River. Among the principal cities on the Yangtze, in addition to those cited in the foregoing, are Wuchang, Nanjing, Hanyang, and Anqing (An-ch'ing). Jiangsu Province, largely a deltaic plain consisting of silt deposited by the Yangtze (more than 170 million cu m/6 billion cu ft annually), is one of the chief rice-growing areas of China.

In 1995 construction began on the Three Gorges Dam near Yichang and is scheduled for completion in 2009. The dam will measure about 600 feet and about 1.5 miles wide. The dam is expected to help control the flooding of the Yangtze River Valley. The Three Gorges (the Qutang Gorge, the Wuxia Gorge, and Xiling Gorge) will also be the largest electricity generating facility in the world. The hydroelectric generators will provide 1/9 of China's total power output.

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River become one of China's top tourist destinations.

The trip starts from the dock south of Liberation Bridge in Guilin downtown area. Otherwise some agencies will transport tourist to by a one-hour bus ride to catch the cruise. The river trip is over eighty kilometers (52 miles) long and is estimated to take seven to eight hours. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.

It is a Chinese tradition to divide the long trip into sections (just as the Three gorges along the Yangtze River) and give each peak an imaginative name. Although some take much of your imagination to see what it is like, listening to tour guide's legendary stories behind them is a delightful experience when you are appreciating the landscapes. Most are mystical fairy and love stories. The write choose some of the peaks and places to illustrate below.

Qin Huai River, southwest of the city and extending 110 kilometers long, is a branch of Yangtze River. It was called Huai River originally. Legend says in the Qin dynasty(221-207B.C.) under the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Mount Fangshan was chiseled through to lead the water into the city, so that it was renamed into Qin Huai River. The inner river of the river used to be the most flourishing place of Nanjing since it was the red-light district famous throughout the nation. Painted boats shuttled to and fro and music sounded all night. Many love affairs and romances spread from here. Almes earned their fame and left their sorrow on the river. On a street beside the river, visitors may see a famous lady's former residence to feel the history. Painted boats on the river were extraordinarily famous. Large or small, all were decorated with colorful lanterns. Sitting on a stool in a boat, flowing with water and recollecting history is a fascinating experience. Nowadays, Qin Huai River has been archaized and revived. With lanterns hung high all aroundand music played, streets along the river restored its flourish.