Lucky LongChina has a vast territory and numerous rivers. Among them, the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Heilongjiang River, and the Pearl River are hailed as the four major rivers in China. They are not only important components of the natural landscape but also the lifelines for the survival and development of the Chinese nation, carrying a long history and splendid culture. Here is a detailed introduction to the length, geographical location, and tourist highlights of these four rivers:
The Yangtze River
- Length: With a total length of more than 6,300 kilometers, it is the longest river in China and the third – longest river in the world.
- Geographical Location: It originates from the southwest side of the Geladandong Peak in the Tanggula Mountains on the Qinghai – Tibet Plateau and flows through 11 provincial – level administrative regions including Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanghai from west to east, and finally empties into the East China Sea.
- Tourist Highlights: The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is the essence of Yangtze River tourism. The grandeur of Qutang Gorge, the beauty of Wu Gorge, and the steepness of Xiling Gorge form a picturesque landscape; Baidi City in Chongqing, famous for Li Bai’s “Leaving Baidi City in the Morning”, is full of rich historical and cultural atmosphere; and the Slender West Lake on the ancient canal in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, has charming scenery, showing the gentle charm of the south of the Yangtze River.
The Yellow River
- Length: It is about 5,464 kilometers long and is the second – longest river in China.
- Geographical Location: It originates from the northern foot of the Bayan Har Mountains on the Qinghai – Tibet Plateau, takes on a “Ji” – shaped curve, and flows through 9 provincial – level administrative regions including Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong from west to east, and finally flows into the Bohai Sea.
- Tourist Highlights: Hukou Waterfall is a great wonder on the Yellow River. Here, the Yellow River water roars and surges, forming a spectacular waterfall group, showing the majestic power of nature; Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, is one of the world’s largest stone – carving art treasure houses with the most statues, closely connected with the Yellow River culture and carrying a thousand – year – old historical heritage; and Laoniu Bay in Inner Mongolia, where the Yellow River and the Great Wall meet, with unique geological landscapes and historical sites complementing each other.
The Heilongjiang River
- Length: It is 4,440 kilometers long (taking the Hailar River as the source) and is the boundary river between China and Russia.
- Geographical Location: It originates from the south side of the Khentii Mountains in Mongolia, flows along the northern border of Heilongjiang Province in China and the southeastern border of Khabarovsk Krai in Russia, and finally empties into the Tartar Strait of the Sea of Okhotsk.
- Tourist Highlights: In winter, the river surface of the Heilongjiang River freezes, forming a natural ice paradise. Tourists can experience ice – skating, winter fishing, and other ice – snow projects here; Mohe on the banks of the Heilongjiang River is the northernmost county – level administrative region in China. Here, you can watch the magical aurora borealis and feel the unique polar scenery; and Heixiazi Island in Heilongjiang Province, half of which belongs to China and half belongs to Russia. The island has a primitive ecological environment, rich wetland landscapes, and rare wild animals and plants.
The Pearl River
- Length: It is 2,320 kilometers long and is the largest river in southern China.
- Geographical Location: It is formed by the confluence of the Xijiang River, the Beijiang River, the Dongjiang River, and the rivers in the Pearl River Delta. The basin covers 6 provinces (regions) including Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangxi, and the northeastern part of Vietnam.
- Tourist Highlights: The Pearl River Night Cruise is a characteristic tourist project in Guangzhou. Tourists can take a cruise ship to enjoy the bright night view on both sides of the Pearl River and feel the prosperity and charm of Guangzhou, a modern metropolis; the Lijiang River in Guilin, Guangxi, is a tributary of the Xijiang River in the Pearl River system. Here, the mountains are clear and the waters are beautiful, enjoying the reputation of “Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven”, and the unique karst landform landscape is fascinating; and Xiqiao Mountain in Foshan, Guangdong, has beautiful natural scenery and profound cultural heritage. The Nanhai Guanyin Cultural Garden on the mountain is an important sacred place of Lingnan Buddhist culture.
These four major rivers, like four giant dragons running through the land of China, shape China’s geographical features, economic patterns, and cultural forms in their own unique ways, and play an irreplaceable role in China’s historical process and social development.
