China’s Mighty Waterways

The most important river in China and perhaps all of Asia, is the Yangtze River. With a length of over 3,915 miles (6,300 km), it is the longest river running through China and the third longest river in the world, outdistanced only by the Amazon River and the Nile River. The Yangtze begins its course in the Tibetan highlands of western China where it then flows east to the East China Sea. With eight major tributaries that fan out into the mountains of western China and continue into the lowlands of eastern China, it is easy to see why the Yangtze demands respect during the summer monsoon rains. Historically, massive floods have resulted during these periods causing extensive damage to land, property and populations. The river supports large city populations in excess of a million in several locations including Shanghai. It is also responsible for carrying more than half of China’s agricultural production to market. The second longest river in China, with a length of 3,395 miles (5,432 km), is the Huang Ho River, often called the Yellow River. It too begins in the Tibetan Plateau and flows east into the Yellow Sea. The Huang Ho is a constantly changing river with a mouth that has entered the Yellow Sea at various points during the preceding three thousand years, sometimes as far apart as 500 miles (800 km). The Huang Ho also holds the dubious distinction of being the muddiest in the world carrying 2 pounds (.9 kg) of silt per cubic foot of water. In flood season, that number can quickly rise to 44 pounds (20 kg) per cubic foot! For a country as diverse and expansive as China, it is very important to understand the wandering wealth of its inland waterways.