The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang 长江)

The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang ) is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. The river is about 6,300 km and originates form the Qinghai province eastwards into the East China Sea near Shanghai. It passes through the capitals Chongqing, Wuhan and Nanjing and divides China into North and South China. The Yangtze is rich in culture, history and of great economic importance to the country. It has the largest hydro-dam in the world - the Three Gorges Dam. The dam prevents flood and has great value to China’s agriculture although the impact on ecology is still not known fully.The Yangtze is important in the river valley's economic growth and has become a vital link for international shipping to the inland provinces. The river is a major transportation artery for China, connecting the interior with the coast.
The river is one of the world's busiest waterways.