As the longest river in important in China, the mighty Yangtze River’s source and mouth are both fascinating features. With its impact on culture and environment, it is important to understand where it rises and where it flows, in order to understand its importance. The Yangtze has been around for centuries, first being mentioned in the Records of the Grand Historian, with its winding journey through 6 provinces within China and multiple unique things to see and do along the way.
The greatest source of the Yangtze River is the renowned glacier of the Geladandong Mountain, located in the Quelatong Gorge of the Mila Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, China. This immense glacier contains many complex and interesting features, with nine peaks towering from the epicenter, and with an average elevation of 5,500 meters. From here, the river rolls through South-West, circulating around the Quelatong Lake and across dark, mysterious expanses.
The mouth of the Yangtze River is just as remarkable as its source. It is the world’s third largest river mouth, situated in Shanghai, which is often made up of the two parts of Hangzhou Bay and the Yangtze estuary. This location has influenced many aspects of Chinese life and development, particularly the local economy.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Yangtze River is its sheer size. It has a length of over 6,300 kilometres, making it China’s longest river, and the longest river in the world. It also has a drainage area of 1,800,000 square kilometers, making it the third largest river in the world in terms of flow.
The Yangtze River has had a huge influence on the history and growing development in China, and to this day it is a significant part of life for the locals in its province. Throughout the centuries and through different dynasties, the Yangtze has had a strong influence on the Chinese people and their culture. Significant events in the past include the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, part of the ‘Five Small Gorges’ of the Yangtze, a project completed in 2009 that changed the face of the river.
The Yangtze is a source of critical resources for various industries, including energy and food. In terms of energy production, the Yangtze River is home to multiple hydroelectric power stations. These systems provide electricity to many local areas and beyond. Since 1990, the Yangtze has been the source of over one-fifth of China’s total hydropower capacity.
The Yangtze is also a source of food kinds of aquatic resources, including freshwater movements and fish. The fisheries of the Yangtze support many local livelihoods, with some estimates reporting that over 30% of China’s fisheries rely on the river for their resources. Moreover, an huge number of endemic species inhabit the waters of the Yangtze River and its tributaries.
The Impact of the Yangtze on People
Such an immense river has historically been a source of nourishment, transportation, and a method of communication. The locals utilise its resources in agricultural and industrial jobs, offering a variety of possibilities to explore. As such, the citizens of the provinces through which it passes are to a large extent dependent on it not only for a livelihood, but also as a sustaining force in their lives. From the transport of goods and services, to the distinction between wealthy and poorer population centres downriver, the importance of the Yangtze is perhaps most highly felt by the people it supports.
The Yangtze has been heavily relied upon as a trading route, partly to pass materials and goods, but also to create connections between the various peoples of China it surrounds. This river has formed the cultural backdrop of their lives, with many customs, traditional flavours, and beliefs associated with its banks. For many, the Yangtze is a part of the everyday fabric of their lives. It is the glue that binds a people, a symbol or a way of life, and helps them to recognise and feel part of a larger collective.
It is a source of spiritual sustenance too, having been regarded in Chinese culture as a representation of femininity, resilience and might. This has been misunderstood in the West however, where it is more often associated with an untamed and unmanageable element of nature. This is a misjudgement, as the locals of the provinces along the Yangtze know its importance and work in harmony with it, not against it.
Conservation: A Vital Part
Rivers and lakes are raw sparks of life in the environment and have always been a vital resource. Without them, communities and ecosystems alike would struggle to survive. As a result, conservation of not only the Yangtze River, but those who depend upon it is vital. In recent years, tremendous efforts have been made in China, to ensure conservation of this fantastic natural feature. These involve actions such as the “Grain for Green” Program, a reforestation campaign that helped to stabilise the waters of the Yangtze. Additionally, citizens have been encouraged to protect local wildlife, littering and pollution laws have been adopted and enforced, and environmental protection measures are now a necessary part of the process.
Pollution is an ever-lasting problem in the Yangtze River however, and has forced a necessity to re-actions from both the government and local people. For example, in 2013, the Three Gorges Dam was found to have caused silting and disruption of the river’s pool and surrounding environment. Despite this, efforts are still being made to minimise the potential damage caused, and to protect this great river’s ecosystem.
In addition to national conservation efforts, local individuals are now taking to the comfort of nature, with multiple activities such as fishing, swimming and sailing taking place by the river. This not only provides much needed recreation, but also promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility over the environment surrounding them.
The Yangtze River as a Nation Builder
The Yangtze River is an important asset for the Chinese Nation, being a key component to the storyline of Chinese civilisation and its great history. This natural resource has had a tremendous impact on both the geographical and cultural aspects of the country, and its importance to the people should not be overlooked.
The Yangtze River has seen active and successful development of Chinese agricultures, helping to shape their society and form the landscape of their world. In turn, the river has seen a great improvement in the living standard within China, and it is part of the reason that China has become the great nation that it is today.
Ultimately, the Yangtze River has seen both highs and lows throughout its journey. Its memories are tied to massive battles, legendary myths, and stories of sacrifices – all these and more have shaped the glorious nation of China. This great source of life is an inspiration and symbol of the progress made throughout Chinese history. For many, it is the mother river, keeping them grounded and close to their culture, and showing successive generations the importance of conservation and nature.
The Modern Yangtze River
Today, the Yangtze River is a significant tourist attraction, drawing more visitors every year. Good availability of transport across the river and its surrounding provinces is making its wonders more accessible than ever. With plenty of activities to explore, such as the Three Gorges Dam, the Geladandong Glacier, the Yangtze River Sanctuary, and the modern cities which line its banks, the Yangtze River is the perfect destination for those seeking adventure and natural beauty. This remarkable river is also the home of diverse species of plants and animals, making it one of the planet’s most important biological habitats.
Due to its importance and prominence as a river, many environmental campaigns, such as the ‘Clean the Yangze’ initiative, have been launched in order to emphasise the importance of conservation. For many years now, China has invested heavily in efforts to clean and improve the river, with great success. These efforts have resulted in increasing seals populations, as well as preservation of bird species, with both seen as a representation of the efforts’ success.
The health of the Yangtze River is of great importance not just to China but to the whole world, as it proves that with careful planning and dedicated conservation, a river can be destroyed and rejuvenated in equal measure. Still, the conservation of the Yangtze is a difficult and ongoing task, and highlights the need for a global strategy to be formed, if we are ever to minimise the human pressure being put on our planet’s resources.
Conclusion
The Yangtze River is one of the world’s great natural wonders, full of beauty and mystery. It is a source of life for the local population and wider community, and its importance to their culture can not be understated. Today, the conservation of this great river is more important than ever, not just for the people who live close to it, but for everyone in this world. Only through dedication and commitment to its care can the stunning beauty of the Yangtze be preserved.
