The Yangzhi River - China's Lifeline
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The source of Chiangjiang, the longest river in China is in the south-west of the Qinghai plateau on Geladandong, the main peak of the Tanggula Mountains. Its estuary is north of Shanghai, where it is 13 km wide when it flows into the Yellow Sea. The river flows through nine provinces, with its 700 tributaries, covers an area od 1.8 million sq. km which is 19 percent of the total area of China. The river flows through most of the important industrialised area in China. It also forms a delta where the density of the population is the highest in the south. This shows how important a role this river has played for the whole of China.

Large boats can navigate the Yangzi river as far as Hankou. Hankou is one of three formerly independent municipalities of what today the industrial city of Wuhan. The two other districts are Wuchang and Hanyang. After the Treaty of Tianjin in 1806 which made Hankou into a free port, the colonial powers quickly established themselves here. They divided the former village into concessions and tried to use it as a base from which to colonise the provinces of Inner China.. Wuhan districts, which has become the largest district, is still characterised by colonial architecture. Today Wuhan, which has 4 million inhabitants, is better known as a starting or finishing points for excursions through the three Yangzi gorges. The Yellow Crane Tower on Snake Mountain has been restored where today there are exhibitions of calligraphy and paintings in the pagoda like building and visitors can see the famous Yangzi bridge from different viewing points located on every floor. Chiangjiang Daqiao, as the bridge is called is 1,156 metres long with eight piers. It was the first bridge across the Yangzi river and was built for rail and road traffic. On the edge of Wuhan is a large lake area, the East Lake, situated in a huge park that has a number of other sights. There is a lovely view across the entire lake and park area from the Sparkling Lake Pavilion. Near East Lake Park is also the restored Hubei Provincial Museum which is worth a visit particularly because of its unique set of well preserved chimes from 433 BC.

Journey up the river from Wuhan to Chongqing, the first stop is the town of Yueyang. The best known sight in this town with around 200,000 inhabitants is the Yueyang Tower which is one of the most famous pavilion towers. The tower is flanked on both sides by two pavilions, the Plum Blossom of the Immortal Pavilions and the Three Drunks Pavilions. Yueyang is on the eastern shore of Lake Dongting, one of the largestinland lakes in China which is linked to the Yangzi by several rivers, canals and lakes and serves as a natural water reservoir for the river. Yichang, the last stop before reaching the Yangzi Gorges, is a predominatly industrial town. The completion of the Gezhouba dam has made the town increasingly important for the Chinese economy. Just behind Yichang, the canalized right part of the river takes the boats to an enormous lock. In front is the biggest dam in China, 2,500 metres wide and 47 metres deep. It was completed in 1986 and supplies electricity to the surrounding provinces. West of Yichang, work has begun on one of the world’s largest dams, the Three Gorges Dam. The trip through the Yangzi Gorges, starts from the Shadow Play Gorge. The first and longest gorge, which includes the Shadow Play Gorge is the Xiling Gorge. This 78 km long gorge consists of several smaller gorges. About half way into the Xiling Gorge, the river is divided by a sand bank. The peculiar shape of the next small gorge earned it name Horse-Lung and Ox-Liver Gorge hidden behind it is the 120 metres long abyss of the Blue Cliff. The mouth of the Xiangxi on the northern bank signals the end of the Xiling Gorge. The second gorge, the 40 km long Witches Gorge is relatively calm despite its name. As with so many places in China, the gorge is surrounded by twelve mountain peaks. The entry to the third gorge, Bellows Gorge is breahtakingly beautiful. Although it is only eight km long, it is probably the most fascinating one. Perpendicular walls rise up from the river, narrowing it to a width of 100 metres. It is difficult to know which is more fascinating, the perpendicular rock face, the swirling, the brown water that reveals underneath its expansive smooth circling surface or the treacherous maelstroms. The first settlement that appears after passing the gorges is Fengjie . To the east of Fengjie is Baidicheng, the City of the White Emperor. The next large town is Wanxian, which for a long while been a trading centre and port for transport ships going through gorges.

About five hour drive from Wanxian on the northern bank of the river, is the Stone Treasure Stronghold (Shibaozhai). During the reign of emperor Qianlong, a temple was erected on a rock which rose up 30 metres from the northern bank of the Yangzi. According to legend, there was a small hole in the temple waal, from which enough rice trickled to feed the monks, thus the name "Stone Treasure". Fengdu, which is on the northern bank of the Yangzi, has been named after a dam and the mountain range surrounding the town. It is really called the Ghost or Devil Town, because from the Tang Dynasty onwards, statues of demons and devils have been housed in numerous temples. The journey up the river ends in Chongqing. It was called Yuzhou during the Tang Dynasty. Chongqing the mountain city, with a population of 13 million is the only Chinese metropolis not located in a flat area and not constructed on grid lines. It has been built against hills by the confluence of the Yangzi and Jialing rivers.