Yangtze River originates from snowy Geladandong, the main peak of Tanggula Mountains on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It runs through 11 provinces, cities and autonomous regions, i.e. Qinghai, Tibet, Szechuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, before finally flowing into East China Sea. With a length of more than 6,300 km, it is the largest river in China and the third longest river in the world.

The upper reaches of Yangtze River feature big vertical drops, with torrents and many gorges flanked by towering mountains, such as Tiger-Leaping Gorge, Three Gorges and so on. After the Three Gorges, it gets to the plain area in the middle reaches of the river. Here the river broadens and the flow slows down. This part is characterized with many crooked streams, branches and lakes. Known as fertile land of fish and rice, the lower reaches of Yangtze River are ow and flat, and the water is broad and deep. At the spot where the Yangtze River enters the sea, the river is 80 to 90 km wide, where the water and sky blend into a mixture, presenting a grand view of extraordinary splendor. Most freshwater lakes of China are scattered over the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River.

The drainage area of Yangtze River has an abundance of water power resources. Hydraulic power plants are constructed at the Gezhouba Dam, Three Gorges, etc. Reputed as the Golden Water Route, Yangtze River has not only a high value for shipping, but also numerous scenic and historical sites. The drainage area of Yangtze River is rich in products and the economy is well developed. Many metropolises such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing are distributed along the river.

Tiger-Leaping Gorge
Located in Lijiang Naxi Autonomous county of Yunnan province, Tiger-Leaping Gorge is about 16 km long. The mountains on both banks of the gorge rise over 3,000 m above the river and the drop of the roaring river is up to 200 m. At its narrowest point, the gorge is only 30 m wide. It is said that there was once a huge tiger that got over it in one leap, hence the name of "Tiger-Leaping Gorge".