{"id":15222,"date":"2024-02-16T18:05:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T17:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=15222"},"modified":"2024-02-16T18:05:17","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T17:05:17","slug":"what-is-the-yangtze-river-known-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-is-the-yangtze-river-known-for\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Yangtze River Known For"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History of the Yangtze River<\/h2>\n

The Yangtze River has been an important part of Chinese history for millennia, originally known as the Chiang or Yangtze Kiang. The Yangtze has been an integral part of Chinese culture, providing transportation, food, water, and cultural exchange. It is estimated to have supported human life since the Neolithic era. In the time of the Three Kingdoms, it was used as a border between the southern states. During the 13th century Qianlong Emperor’s reign the first locks were built, making it possible to use the river for transport and shipping. <\/p>\n

The Yangtze has been a major part of Chinese industry since the 19th century, when steamships began using the river to transport goods. It also served as a major mode of transportation for people and goods, and as a fish breeding ground for aquaculture. During the 1950s Mao Zedong declared the Yangtze a major industrial center and the working conditions were harsh. In the 1980s Chinese industry began to develop along the banks of the Yangtze. <\/p>\n

Most notably, the Three Gorges Dam was built in 2003. It is the world’s largest water-diversion structure, creating a 350-kilometer-long reservoir. The construction of the dam was fraught with controversy, particularly due to its environmental impact on the local communities, species and ecosystems. It caused large-scale land subsidence, displacement of people and loss of biodiversity, and ultimately changed the course of the river. In 2011, the Yangtze flood defenses were completed, with the aim of protecting over 140 million people from flooding.<\/p>\n

Economic Impact and Trade<\/h2>\n

The Yangtze River Valley generates nearly half of China’s economic output. It is home to a number of major ports and trading centers, including Shanghai, and it is a crucial factor in the country’s fast-growing economy. It is estimated that the Yangtze transports over three billion tons of goods annually, making it the most important river in terms of China’s national trade and commerce. <\/p>\n