China has stilled the Yangtze in the world's most flooded gorges.The Yangtze stretches from a glacier on the border of Tibet to Shanghai. It's China's biggest river and the world's third longest river. China has harnessed the Yangtze for power and navigation with the world's biggest dam.
The Yangtze River is central to China and its history, and has a huge variety of tourist attractions, breathtaking scenery, and diverse culture along its length.
Yangtze Features — Amazing World Records
Record breaking ship locks lift cruise ships up and down the Three Gorges Dam.The winding Yangtze, if it were stretched straight, would stretch across the whole of China, from China to the UK, or from China to Alaska! No wonder the Chinese name for it is Chang Jiang, literally 'Long River'.
- Earth's third longest river: 6,380 km (3,960 mi)
- Longest river in a single country
- Longest artificial lake: The Three Gorges Lake is 600 km (370 mi) long!
- World's third longest suspension bridge: Runyang Bridge near Nanjing
- World's first double-deck train bridge with six pairs of train tracks: Baishatuo Yangtze Bridge (opened 2018)
- World's biggest city: Shanghai (city proper pop. 24 million [2018])
See more on 7 Amazing Yangtze River Facts.
The World's Biggest Dam
The Three Gorges DamThe Three Gorges Dam holds several records:
- World's biggest dam: 175 m (574 ft) high, 181 m (594 ft) in width and 2.34 km (7,661 ft) in length!
- World's heaviest concrete structure: 144 billion tons!
- World's most powerful power station: 22,500 megawatts
See more records on The Three Gorges Dam.
Yangtze History — Strategic Divide
Men once arduously pushed boats with poles and pulled them with ropes up the Three Gorges for trade and travel.The Yangtze River has been very strategic both militarily and commercially, dividing north and south China. The Yangtze both facilitated inland trade and cultural development and hindered north-south travel.
The Natural Boundary Between Kingdoms
The upper and middle reaches' deep gorges were perilous, and the lower reaches of the river were wide and prone to flood. >Unbridgeable until the last century, crossing by boat was the only way possible.
In Chinese chess, the Yangtze divides the board, representing one of China's most famous battles, the Battle of Red Cliffs (AD 206), which divided China's longest-lasting empire — the Han Dynasty.
See more on Yangtze History and Culture.
Tourist Highlights of the Yangtze
Upper Reaches: Lijiang's Gorges, Mountains, and Minorities
Tiger Leaping GorgeThe upper Yangtze reaches roar down canyons and valleys from the Tibetan Plateau to Sichuan Province. Ships can't navigate there.
Lijiang is the hub for the main Upper Reaches attractions.
At Lijiang, you can see the Yangtze in one of the world's deepest canyons, the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of China's best hiking areas. While there, see the UNESCO recognized Naxi minority towns.
The First Bend of the Yangtze River has Naxi villages, river boats, and the historic crossing point of the Yangtze's upper reaches providing Tea Horse Road access to Tibet.
Middle Reaches: Three Gorges Cruises
The Yangtze's middle reaches, between Chongqing and Yichang, are broad and placid and the most popular section for cruise ship touring.
For many centuries, Chinese artists and poets have praised the beauty of The Three Gorges. They have been painted by dozens of famous artists.
Now, the dam makes cruise ship travel easy, so you can enjoy the gorges comfortably.
Most of Yangtze cruise ships ply the Three Gorges and include a tour of the dam. They stop at the Lesser Three Gorges, and for other scenic and cultural excursions by the river.
See How to Plan a Yangtze River Cruise.
Lower Reaches: Water Towns and Cities
Zhujiajiao has quaint scenery and is one of China's most popular water towns.The Yangtze's lower reaches, including the prosperous delta region, have many interesting cities to tour: Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai.
Only Victoria Cruises sail the full distance from Shanghai to Chongqing.
Scenic water towns, threaded with canals, are popular places for sightseeing and relaxing.
Discover the Yangtze Your Way
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