The Yangtze River, also called Changjiang (Long River) in Chinese, is the longest river in Asia and third longest in the world, next only to the Nile in northeast Africa and the Amazon in South America.
Originating in the Kunlun Mountains in western China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at the height over 3,000 meters, the Yangtze River snakes its way for 6,300 kilometers (about 3937 mile) through nine provinces (Qinghai, Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu) and the city of Shanghai, and finally reaches its mouth in the East China Sea. With more than 700 tributaries, the Yangtze River system has a total drainage area of 1.8 million square kilometers, being 19 percent of the total land area in the country.
The Yangtze River is also important to the cultural origins of southern China. It was 100,000 years ago that the human beings have lived in the Yangtze drainage area. Lantian Man, Changyang Man, Yunxian Man are all the Chinese remote ancestors. And the ancient human remains and ruins of the Old and New stone Ages have been discovered everywhere along the River nowadays. 7000 years ago, our ancestors were fishing, cultivating, planting rice and bringing up descendants here. In the long history, Jingchu Culture, Wu and Yue Culture, Bashu Culture and several minority nationalities cultures rose and become splendid, which are all the priceless treasure in Chinese civilization.
Nowadays, the Yangtze River has immense economic importance in China. It provides irrigation water for agriculture, a source of hydroelectric power, a waterway for cargo vessels, scenic points of interest for tourism, and a great transportation network through the heart of some of the most densely populated and economically important areas in China. Shanghai, China’s most important port, commands the entrance to the YangtzeBasin, which drains an area of 1,940,000 sq km (750,000 sq mi) and contributes nearly half of China’s crop production. Some of China’s most important industrial centers are located on the Yangtze, including Wuhan and Chongqing.
The Three Gorges, the most spectacular section of the Yangtze River, are filled with breathtaking scenery. Each year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists at home and abroad.
Not far away from the Three Gorges situate two great water conservancies, Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project and Three Gorges Dam Project. The Gezhouba Project, began in 1970, is the first dam across the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam, began in 1994, will rank as the world’s largest hydroelectric dam when it is completed in 2009.
With the construction of these dams, tourism tide around the Yangtze River and especially the Three Gorges sprang up. Today, a cruise on the Yangtze has been the dream of many travelers. There’s no better way to experience China's stunning landscapes, ancient culture and unique architecture than on a Yangtze River cruise.
Length: 6300 kilometers
Total Drainage Area: 1.8 million square kilometer
Major Cities along the River: Panzhihua, Yibin, Luzhou, Chongqing, Yichang, Jingzhou, Yueyang, Wuhan, Huanggang, Jiujiang, Anqing, Wuhu, Hefei, Maanshan, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Nanjing Nantong, Shanghai, Fengdu
Tributaries: Yalong River, Minjiang River, Jialing River, Tuohe River, Hanshui River, Fushui River
dining
When traveling along the three gorges, most of the meals are served in the cruise. But if you want to savor the genuine local dishes along this river, you are recommended to drop in some restaurants once you embark.
Cuisine in the three gorges combines the characters of Sichuan cuisine and Hubei cuisines. Besides their fresh and delicious flavor, these cuisines also have many legends and stories. Most of them even have some relations to the historical events.
Chongqing is one of the most important along the Three Gorges. As one branch of Sichuan cuisine, Chongqing cuisine is noted for its distinctive spicy and pungent flavors. Hot pot is the most famous and favorite snack in Chongqing. It was said that there are about 51,000 hot pot companies in Chongqing, hence the name “capital of hot pot”. Chongqing hot pot is noted for its spicy, hot, delicious, scalding yet fresh and tender taste as well as a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
Having absorbed the features of cuisine of other culinary styles, Wuhan cuisine, based on long-period evolution, has formed its own characters. It is the typical representative of Hubei Cuisine. Wuhan style cuisine focuses on materials, preparation, cooking time, cutting technique and appearance of dishes. The most famous dish in Wuhan is Wuchang fish, which Chairman Mao liked enough to mention in one of his poems. This freshwater fish, when steamed together with mushrooms, bamboo shoots and chicken soup, maintains both the original fresh taste of the fish and the nutrients.
Although located in Hubei Province, the Yichang is quiet similar to Sichuan in the culinary style. Yichang dishes focus on original flavor, salt but fresh taste and spicy flavor. Hot pepper plays an important role in the cooking. The most famous cuisines in Yichang include Baicha Fat Fish, Sanyou Spirit Chicken, Xiakou Pearl Soup and etc.
shopping
Chongqing boasts rich natural resources and local specialties, making it a good place to do some shopping. The local products recommended include: Chongqing Tuo Tea, Cuiping Silver Needle Tea, Xinong Maojian Tea, Rongchang Paper Fans, Print Painting, Sichuan Brocade and etc. There are modern shopping malls, department stores, comprehensive trade markets, professional wholesale markets, supermarkets, and chain stores all over the urban and rural regions.
Yichang is well known for its tea specialty and citrus fruit. Besides, Kiwi, persimmon, chestnut, agarics, Xiling Painted Pottery and Three Gorges Stone are all worth taking home. You can shop for those regional specialties in the local malls. There are two major shopping areas in Yichang, Tieluba near the Yiling square and Jiefang Road near Jiefang Theater.
Wuhan has long been the center of commerce, with the development of construction in the last few years, the commerce of Wuhan is quite prosperous now; all kinds of shopping places stand in great numbers in each corner of urban area of Wuhan. In addition, there are a lot of characteristic shopping streets in Wuhan too, draw the visitors' attention all over the world.
entertainment
Most of the cities along the Yangtze River, such as Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan, Yichang and etc, have numerous types of recreation and entertainment activities. The cinemas, KTV, theatres, nightclub, dance clubs, pubs, cafes, teahouse, and etc are all good place for relaxation.
If you make a Yangtze River Cruise, the entertainment on board will be the highlight of the whole voyage. Lectures on clinics, Kungfu and fitness, Chinese painting and calligraphy performance, feature films, fashion shows and cabaret shows perform by the crew are all available which will add insight and depth to the cruise experience.
transportation
Most of the cities along the Yangtze River have developed land and water transpirations. They can be reached easily through highway, railway, water and aviation. While, if you want to view the spectacular and breathtaking sceneries along the Three Gorges, Yangtze Series Cruise then is the main transportation tool for the tourists home and broad to tour the Yangtze Three Gorges. These cruises, reputed as the “floating hotels”, are luxurious, clean, comfortable and elegant. They all have elegant interior design, observation lounges, restaurants, full-service bars, cozy libraries, and sun decks with stunning 360-degree views.
The Yangtze River, also called Changjiang (Long River) in Chinese, is the longest river in Asia and third longest in the world, next only to the Nile in northeast Africa and the Amazon in South America. .jpg)
The Three Gorges, the most spectacular section of the Yangtze River, are filled with breathtaking scenery. Each year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists at home and abroad..jpg)
When traveling along the three gorges, most of the meals are served in the cruise. But if you want to savor the genuine local dishes along this river, you are recommended to drop in some restaurants once you embark.
Cuisine. Wuhan style cuisine focuses on materials, preparation, cooking time, cutting technique and appearance of dishes. The most famous dish in Wuhan is Wuchang fish, which Chairman Mao liked enough to mention in one of his poems. This freshwater fish, when steamed together with mushrooms, bamboo shoots and chicken soup, maintains both the original fresh taste of the fish and the nutrients..jpg)
Most of the cities along the Yangtze River, such as Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan, Yichang and etc, have numerous types of recreation and entertainment activities. The cinemas, KTV, theatres, nightclub, dance clubs, pubs, cafes, teahouse, and etc are all good place for relaxation.
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