Yangtze Facts

The Yangtze is to China what the circulatory system is to a human body. It flows throughout the country, carrying essential supplies to where they’re needed and making sure the country is powered efficiently. It’s part of China’s history and the future.

For all the controversy surrounding development attached to the river, China needs the Yangtze to survive. It shapes the landscape and it draws visitors to the less urban areas of the country. Without it, China would lose immeasurably. As the Chinese saying goes, “If you haven’t traveled the mighty Yangtze, you haven’t been anywhere.”

Any visitor to China should take time to view the Yangtze River at one of its many ports. One of the longest rivers in the world, the Yangtze is surpassed only by the Nile and the Amazon. The Yangtze has over 700 tributaries and can be entered almost anywhere along its path.

The Yangtze not only has many harbors, it also goes by a variety of names. Its headwaters in the Kunlun Mountains of western China and the lower plains are the main places that it is actually known as the Yangtze. In the Tibetan plains, the river is known as the Dri Chu (Female Yak River) or Tongtian He, which means Travelling through the Heavens River. Near Sichuan, it’s called Jinsha Jiang, the River of Golden Sand and, with the honorarium Wanli attached, it’s known to be Ten Thousand Li River. As the river makes its way east across China, it’s also known as simply the River.

Geography

The Yangtze, from its start in the mountains, flows nearly across the entirety of China. Its total length is estimated at 3,915 feet or 6,300 kilometers. Defying expected trajectories, the river flows in almost every direction as it crosses the country. In general, you can trace it in a south-easterly direction but, you’ll also find the Yangtze heading northeast through Sichuan and surrounding provinces and then directly east to the East China Sea.

All told, the Yangtze is the border for ten of China’s provinces and crosses eleven. Its ubiquitous presence in China not only shapes the landscape, it is essential to the country’s economy, a fundamental presence in Chinese history and crucial to getting people and goods across the land’s 3.7 million square miles of terrain.

History

The exact origin of a natural land feature like the Yangtze isn’t something easily verified. Archaeologically, we know that rice was being grown in the Yangtze at least 7,000 years ago. And, there are fossils that display evidence of life as much as 2 million years ago. Excavations have been conducted and evidence continues to be collected so, an answer about the origin of the Yangtze may yet turn up.

In recorded Chinese history, development around the Yangtze is known to have occurred during the Shang Dynasty. Three thousand years ago, the Shang Dynasty left behind jade, ceramic and bronze artifacts. These relics in the Sichuan area show clearly that the river valley was important culturally, even early in China’s development.

As Chinese culture evolved, the Yangtze made it possible for cities to flourish. Trade on the river existed to take grain from agricultural areas to the larger urban regions in the north. There is evidence that the Yangtze may have been in use as a waterway as early as the 4th century BCE, and, given the signs of rice cultivation, many believe that this is where rice was first grown, leading to more and greater agricultural importance for China as a country.

While sharing grain and resources via the Yangtze, the size of the river also served to divide provinces. Culture and custom developed in unique ways on the north and south of the Yangtze, further demonstrating just how important the size of this waterway is.

In the modern era, the Yangtze played a role in the Second Sino-Japanese War. This conflict between China and Japan, often considered the start of World War II, took place over 1937 through 1945. One of the first major events became known as the Nanking Massacre. Still disputed by historians today, this attack by the Japanese Imperial Army on unarmed Chinese civilians was one of the most brutal of the war. Over 250,000 died during the attack although records were subsequently destroyed by the Japanese forces. The Yangtze was no longer merely an avenue for trade but also a means of warfare and destruction.

After the war’s end, tribunals and trials were held but, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that the full extent of the atrocities was recognized through multiple memorials and museums. Visitors to Nanking can view all of these, located not far from the Yangtze.

Ecology

The beauty of the Yangtze, from port or the river itself, draws people from around the world to it. As a tourist attraction, the Yangtze benefits much of China. This, however, has to be weighed against the river’s propensity to flood, leaving thousands dead each time and destroying homes and businesses.

As a countermeasure (and a source of hydroelectric power), construction on the Three Gorges Dam was begun in 1994. Despite protests from within and outside of China, the dam’s ability to prevent flooding and withstand earthquakes was a large argument in its favor. Environmentalists and preservationists argued that the displacement of 1.5 million people living in the Yangtze valley was too high a price to pay for enhanced protection from natural disasters.

Despite the controversy, the Three Gorges Dam went forward and offered much in the way of development as it protected the natural landscape. Ultimately, China has experienced great economic and natural benefits from the development. And, the progressive development allows more ecotourism and opportunity to fully enjoy the Yangtze.

Travel

When traveling to China, your experience of the Yangtze will be determined by the mode of transportation you choose. The rail lines that crisscross modern China will offer you views of the river at certain points. The same is true of many metropolitan areas. But, if you really want to get up close to the Yangtze, you should consider a river cruise.

A river cruise on the Yangtze can occupy up to nine days from Chongqing to Shanghai, depending on which company and route you choose to take. But the regular route is from Chongqing to Yichang and vice versa. As with any cruise, you’ll find that the ships offer many amenities and allow you to travel in comfort. Shore excursions should include an English-speaking host and will give you a chance to shop or see culturally significant sites. Most cruises include a visit to the Three Gorges Dam region, either via Chongqing, Yichang or Wuhan. Check with the cruise line or your travel agent to discuss your time duration, what you would like to see and where you’d like to go on your Yangtze cruise.

To fully appreciate China, you should include time for the Yangtze. Time on shore near the river or sailing its waters is what will adhere to your memory and give you a fuller view of China, both old and new. Whether your interests are historical, cultural or ecological, you will find much to appreciate on its banks. Better still, one of the many Yangtze cruises available will give you a chance to experience real China from a unique viewpoint.