Yangtze River, 6, 300 km in length, is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world. It originates from Mt. Tanggula on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and runs through Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai till the East Sea. Along the banks inhabit more than 300 million people. There are 27 million hectares of farm land in the river valley which is abundant with rice, cotton, rape, natural silk, hemp, tea and tobacco. The output of rice accounts for 70 percent of the national total and that of cotton holds a one-third share.

The river system is quite satisfying, with some 900 billion cu. m. of water running to the sea at the river mouth every year, 20 times that of the Yellow River. The navigable waters extend some 70, 000 km on the Yangtze River with 30, 000 km for motorships. The reserved potential of hydroelectric resources is 230 million kw.

The distance between Chongqing and Wuhan is 1, 370 km and 2,495 km with Shanghai.

The Three Gorges on the Yangtze River are world famous for the colorful scenery as well as diversified cultural relics, unique folk arts of the Ba and Chu states. Pleasure boats can take tourists to Fengdu, Wanzhou, Wushan Mountain, Shennongxi, Badong, Zigui, Yichang and Jingsha and other scenic spots along the river. The Three Gorges Tour is one of the 10 best itineraries in China.