Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Yangtze River
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Locator map highlighting the course of the Yangtze River across China, with surrounding countries in East and Central Asia labeled, including India, Russia, Mongolia, Japan, and the Koreas. The Yangtze River is marked in blue and labeled in orange, showing its path from western to eastern China. An inset globe in the upper left shows the region's location within Asia. Yellow River basin and Yangtze River basin Yangtze River near Shangri-La, Yunnan province Wide view of the first bend of the Yangtze River in Yunnan, China, showing a sweeping river curve around a green plain with mountains in the background. Xiling Gorge Yangtze River The Three Gorges Dam spans the Yangtze River with large red cranes along the top, surrounded by water and green hills near Yichang, Hubei province, China. Nanjing Skyline of Chongqing, China, with high-rise buildings at the junction of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers, and several boats on the brown water. Three Gorges Dam
At a Glance
Xiling Gorge, in the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River, as it appeared before completion of the Three Gorges Dam, Hubei province, China.
Yangtze River summary
Quizzes
Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
Roofs of the Forbidden City, Beijing, China
All About Asia
asia bee map
Get to Know Asia
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
47 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Geography Quizzes
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Locator map highlighting the course of the Yangtze River across China, with surrounding countries in East and Central Asia labeled, including India, Russia, Mongolia, Japan, and the Koreas. The Yangtze River is marked in blue and labeled in orange, showing its path from western to eastern China. An inset globe in the upper left shows the region's location within Asia.
Yangtze River

Yangtze River

river, China
Also known as: Ch’ang Chiang, Chang Jiang, Da Jiang
Written by
Charles E. Greer
Professor of Geography and of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Indiana University, Bloomington. Author of Water Management in the Yellow River Basin of China.
Charles E. GreerAll
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Yangtze River, longest river in both China and Asia and third longest river in the world, with a length of 3,915 miles (6,300 km). Its basin, extending for some 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from west to east and for more than 600 miles (1,000 km) from north to south, drains an area of 698,265 square miles (1,808,500 square km). From its source on the Plateau of Tibet to its mouth on the East China Sea,...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile