China’s Mighty Yangtze River
Among the major highlights of a trip to China are hiking through spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge and cruising through the famous Three Rivers Gorge.
Trekking through the rugged Tiger Leaping Gorge in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province appeals particularly to outdoor enthusiasts while a cushy cruise through the more centrally-located Three Rivers Gorge is hugely popular with both Chinese nationals and more mainstream western tourists.
One thing both destinations have in common, besides being spectacular gorges, is that they’re both located on the mighty Yangtze River.
China’s Yangtze River is comparable to the Rhine and Danube Rivers in Europe. They all count among the longest and most important rivers in their regions. All have greatly shaped the cultural, economic and political developments of the countries they flow through. They’ve also all inspired artists, poets and writers throughout the centuries, due to their great beauty, importance and allure.
Following are more river Yangtze facts, particularly intriguing for travelers to China who hope to visit either famous gorge during their journeys.
Three Rivers Gorge – China
* Yangtze is the longest river in China.
*It’s also the longest river in Asia.
* Even more impressively, Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, after The Amazon and The Nile.
* It flows for over 3900 miles / 6300 km.
* More than 700 river tributaries flow into the Yangtze.
* The great river begins in the glaciers of the Tanggula Mountains in Qinhai Province/Tibet – now part of northwestern China.
* Yangtze drains into the East China Sea at Shanghai, China.
* The great river passes through many different topographies as it winds its way through China.
* Historically, the extensive river network has been a major cradle of civilization in China.
Tiger Leaping Gorge – Yunnan China
* More than 30 major Chinese cities lie along the Yangtze.
* The river network accounts for nearly 19% of China’s land area.
* The vast Yangtze River basin is the main bread basket of China, accounting for 20% of China’s GDP.
* Two major dams have been built on the Yangtze for hydro-electric power: Gezhouba Dam. and Three Rivers Gorge Dam
* Three Rivers Gorge Dam is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.
* Three Rivers Gorge is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
* Three Rivers Gorge is the Yangtze River’s main tourist attraction.
* It runs for 120 km, with three main gorge areas.
* Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world.
* The gorge is considered the first gorge of the Yangtze River, although technically located on the Jingsa River, a Yangtze River tributary.
* It runs for 16 km at an average elevation of 3300 M / 10,890 ft.
* Trekking through the entire gorge generally takes 2 days.
The mighty Yangtze River is truly one of the world’s greatest rivers. If you’re traveling to China, add a cruise through Three Rivers Gorge and/or a trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge to your itinerary. They’re among some of China’s most spectacular scenery.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
