Xijiang

Xijiang

Xijiang River is one of the main streams of the Pearl River system. It has a total length of 2214 kilometers and a catchment area of 353120 square kilometers.

Xijiang River has a long history, and each section of the main stream has different names in history. It is called Nanpanjiang from the source to Zhexiang village, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province; Hongshui River from Shilong Town, Xiangzhou County, Laibin City, Guangxi Province; Qianjiang from Shilong Town to Guiping City; Xunjiang from Guiping city to Wuzhou City; Xijiang from Wuzhou City to Sixianjiao, Sanshui District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. Nanpanjiang River and Hongshuihe river are the upper reaches of Xijiang River, Qianjiang River and Xunjiang River are the middle reaches, Xijiang River is the lower reaches, and the lower reaches to Modaomen are the estuary. Xijiang River, Dongjiang River, Beijiang River and Pearl River Delta rivers are collectively called Pearl River. Xijiang River is the longest river in South China and the fourth largest river in China. The longest river in the Pearl River system is second only to the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Heilongjiang. Shipping volume ranks second in China, second only to the Yangtze River. Xijiang River is rich in water conservancy and hydraulic resources, which has made great contributions to agricultural irrigation, river transportation and power generation in coastal areas.

Water system composition

Xijiang River, known as Yushui, langshui and Yaojiang in ancient times, is the largest water system in the Pearl River Basin.

It originates from the eastern foot of maziong, the Yumai of Wumeng Mountain in Qujing City, Yunnan Province, flows through Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces (districts), and reaches Sixianjiao, Sanshui County, Guangdong Province, where it meets with Dongjiang River and Beijiang River. It is called Pearl River together with the rivers of Pearl River Delta, and flows into the South China Sea at Modaomen.

The main stream of Xijiang River to Sixianjiao of Sanshui county is 2075 km long, with a drainage area of 353100 square kilometers.

The Xijiang River in the Pearl River Basin historically refers to the lower reaches of the modern Xijiang River, from Wuzhou City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to Sixianjiao River in Sanshui District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. Xijiang River in modern geographical sense refers to the whole reach from the source of Pearl River to Sixianjiao, Sanshui District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. Among them, Nanpan River and Hongshui River are the upper reaches of Xijiang River, Qianjiang River and Xunjiang River are the middle reaches, Wuzhou river is the lower reaches and Modaomen river is the estuary.

The main stream of Xijiang River and its tributaries, sources and lakes constitute the Xijiang River system. Xijiang River system and its geographical elements in the catchment area are collectively referred to as Xijiang River Basin.

Xijiang River has a long history, and each section of the main stream has different names in history. Today, Zhexiang village, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province is called Nanpanjiang above, Hongshuihe below, Shilong Town, Xiangzhou County, Guangxi Province, Qianjiang from Shilong Town to Guiping City, Xunjiang from Guiping city to Wuzhou City, Xijiang from Wuzhou City to Sixianjiao, Sanshui District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province.

Nanpanjiang River Section

trunk stream

Nanpanjiang River in the upper reaches of Xijiang River, called Wenshui or Panjiang River in ancient times, originated from the eastern foot of maziong, the Yumai of Wumeng Mountain in Qujing City, Yunnan Province. In August 1985, the Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission, together with the water conservancy (hydropower) departments of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces and the local administrative leaders, held a monument ceremony beside the "Water Cave" at the source of the Pearl River.

From the source of the Pearl River to the confluence of the Beipanjiang River, that is, the Shuangjiang estuary of Zhaxiang village, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, the total length is 914km, the average slope of the river is 1.74 ‰, and the drainage area is 56809km2. Among them, there are 5548 square kilometers in Guangxi, 7713 square kilometers in Guizhou and 43548 square kilometers in Yunnan. Nanpanjiang River is about 11 km long from Qingshui River Estuary in Xilin County, Guangxi to Huangni River Estuary in Xinzhai County, Luoping County, Yunnan Province, which is the boundary river between Guangxi and Yunnan Province; Xinzhai to Zhexiang is about 263 km long, which is the boundary river between Guangxi and Guizhou Province. The total length of the two is 274 km, flowing through Xilin, Longlin, Tianlin, Leye and other counties in Guangxi. The middle and lower reaches of Nanpanjiang River are 50-100 meters wide, with large longitudinal slope, fast flow and many dangerous beaches. From badazhang, Xingyi County, Guizhou Province to Shuangjiangkou, Zhexiang, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, the river reaches are 190 km long, mostly V-shaped canyons, with 91 rapids and water drops. Among them, Leigong beach, which stretches 14.5 kilometers, falls 181 meters.

hydrology

The annual natural runoff of the Nanbei Panjiang river is 38.5 billion cubic meters, of which the Beipan River is 14.3 billion cubic meters (its drainage area is 26504 square kilometers).

tributary

Nanpanjiang River has 44 primary tributaries with a drainage area of more than 100 square kilometers. Among them, there are 8 rivers flowing into Guangxi, the largest of which is Xinzhou River, namely Longlin River, with a drainage area of 924 square kilometers and a river length of 78 kilometers. Qingshui River, the boundary river between Xilin County and Yunnan Province, is the second major tributary of Nanpan River, with a drainage area of 5376 square kilometers and a river length of 181 kilometers. Most of the area is in Yunnan, and a small section of its downstream reaches Guangxi.

Hongshui reach

Main stream and tributary

Nanpanjiang River meets Beipanjiang River in Zhexiang village. The following reach is called Hongshui River. It is named for its turbid water quality and red water color. In ancient times, it was called Yaoshui River, Wenshui River and dunijiang river. Hongshui River is 659 km long from Shuangjiangkou, Zhaxiang village, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province to Sanjiangkou, Shilong Town, Xiangzhou County, Guangxi Province. The catchment area below Beipan River is 54406 km2, including 38562 km2 in Guangxi and 15844 km2 in Guizhou. The drainage area above Sanjiangkou (including Nanpan River and Beipan River) is 137719 square kilometers, including 44110 square kilometers in Guangxi, 48950 square kilometers in Yunnan and 44659 square kilometers in Guizhou.

The whole reach of Hongshui River has 29 primary tributaries with a drainage area of more than 100 square kilometers, including 11 tributaries with a drainage area of more than 1000 square kilometers (including Beipan River); among the primary tributaries in Guangxi, there are 22 tributaries with a drainage area of more than 100 square kilometers, including 8 tributaries with a drainage area of more than 1000 square kilometers (excluding Niuhe River, part of which is in Guangxi).

Hongshui River flows through Leye, Tian'e, Nandan, Donglan, Bama, Dahua, Du'an, Mashan, Xincheng, Heshan, Laibin, Xiangzhou and other counties (autonomous counties) and cities in Guangxi. Liujiang River flows in at Sanjiangkou, Shilong Town, Xiangzhou County. It is 107.5km long from Shuangjiangkou to Niuhe (caodu River) estuary, which is the boundary river between Guangxi and Guizhou.

The Beipan River, Lianjiang River and Niuhe River (caodu River) in Guizhou Province flow in from the left bank. The lower part of Niuhe river is also the boundary river between Guangxi and Guizhou.

After Hongshui River completely entered Guangxi, Buliu River (with drainage area of 3418 square kilometers and river length of 172 kilometers) converged from the right bank in banai village, Tian'e county. Above Tiane County, Hongshui River flows through the gorge. The narrow riverbed is only 50-60 meters, and the narrowest dashalitan is only 30 meters. The widest part is only 200-300 meters; there are many shoals, the depth of the shallowest part is less than 1 meter in dry season, and the depth of the slow flow deep pool is up to 30 meters.

To Wuai Town, Nandan county, there is Nandan River (also known as Qingshui River, with a drainage area of 1020 square kilometers and a river length of 91 kilometers) flowing in from the left bank.

To Bama Yao Autonomous County, there is Panyang River (also known as Cifu River, with a drainage area of 2550 square kilometers and a river length of 137 kilometers) flowing in from the right bank. The lower reaches of the estuary are Yantan gorge. Yantan Hydropower Station was built here in October 1983. Out of Yantan gorge, Lingqi River (also known as Lingqi river or Liangqi River, with a drainage area of 1930 square kilometers and a river length of 137 kilometers) flows into Dongyou village from the right bank. Next, the Pingzhi River (Dahong River, with a drainage area of 1198 square kilometers and a river length of 75 kilometers) converges from the right bank after a section of its downstream undercurrent.

To Dahua Yao Autonomous County, Dahua Power Station Phase I project, with a total installed capacity of 400000 kW, was completed in 1985. Near Nahao shipyard, Baiwang Township, Du'an Yao Autonomous County, Diaojiang river (also known as Yijiang River, with a drainage area of 3269 square kilometers and a river length of 237 kilometers) flows in from the left bank. 20 km below the Diaojiang river estuary and upstream of Hongdu in Xincheng County is the Ertan Hydropower Station. The first phase of the project, with an installed capacity of 60000 kW, was completed in 1981. To the lower reaches of Qianjiang town in Laibin County, Qingshui River (with a drainage area of 3992 square kilometers and a river length of 189 kilometers) flows into Shanglin county from the right bank. Near Modong village, Qiaogong Town, Laibin City, the beizhijiang River (also known as Qingshui River, with a drainage area of 1526 square kilometers and a river length of 101 kilometers) flows in from the left bank. The width of Hongshui River below Tian'e county is about 200 meters, the bank is steep, the depth is 60-100 meters, and the riverbed is composed of rocks, which is relatively stable; although sandbanks are rare, there are still many shoals. There are 273 rapids in Hongshui River.

hydrology

Because there are springs on both sides of the channel and the recharge water from underground river to Hongshui River, the flow is stable in dry season. In the lower part of Nanpanjiang River and the middle and lower reaches of Hongshui River, carbonate rocks are widely distributed, karst is developed, and there are many underground rivers and springs. In Du'an Yao Autonomous County alone, there are 38 underground rivers, including 99 tributaries. In dry season, the flow is 19.5 cubic meters per second, all of which are discharged into Hongshui River.

According to the statistics of Qianjiang station, the average annual runoff for many years is 69.53 billion cubic meters, and the highest is 103 billion cubic meters in 1968, which is 2.7 times of the 38.5 billion cubic meters in 1963. The coefficient of variation of annual discharge is 0.29. Among the annual average monthly runoff, may to October accounted for 3.2% of the annual runoff, June to September accounted for 68.0% of the annual runoff, and June, July and August accounted for 15.4%, 20.3% and 19.5% of the annual runoff respectively.

Qianjiang reach

trunk stream

Liujiang River, a tributary on the left side of Hongshui River, flows into Hongshui River

Chinese PinYin : Xi Jiang