The source of the Yangtze River

The source of the Yangtze River

synonym

The source of the Yangtze River generally refers to the source of the Yangtze River

The source of the Yangtze River (one of the three sources): the source of the Yangtze River, that is, several sources of the Tongtian River, lies between the Kunlun Mountains and the Tanggula mountains in the hinterland of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. There are three sources of the Yangtze River, chumar River in the north, Tuotuo River in the north and Dangqu River in the south.

Historically, it is believed that there are four sources: 1) the main branch of Zhengyuan (South Branch) is the first-class Tongtian River, which is called the upper section of Tongtian River in ancient times. Generally, it is Buqu, which is the main trend of Qinghai Tibet Railway in Tanggula Mountain Area; 2) the South Branch of Zhengyuan (Dangqu) comes from the swamp at the eastern foot of Tanggula Mountain, which forms the second-class Tongtian River after accepting Dangqu; 3) the West Branch of Zhengyuan (Tuotuo River) starts from Tanggula Mountain in ancient times The third level Tongtian River is formed when the main peak of La mountain is the East Great Ice peak of gladan mountain, and the fourth level Tongtian River is formed when the North chumar River comes from the southern foot of Heiji mountain of Kekexili mountain, which is the southern branch of Kunlun mountain. The lemaqu (Xiushui River) between Zhengyuan and Beiyuan is the seasonal river.

In 1976, it was considered that there were three sources: the Tuotuo River was considered as the main source, and it was called Tongtian River only when it flowed into the river below, while Buqu, which was called the upper part of Tongtian River in history, was reduced to the largest tributary of Dangqu

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In 2008, the research team of the Institute of geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted another research on the source of the Yangtze River and found that the length and water quantity of Dangqu River were longer than that of Tuotuo River. Therefore, Dangqu was considered as the main source of the Yangtze River, but it has not been recognized by the state

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Contemporary consideration: the contemporary Qinghai Tibet Railway set up Tongtianhe station in the place called Tongtian River in history, and it is also located in Tuotuohe station (along Tuotuohe River), giving consideration to the traditional name in history.

The landscape of the source of the Yangtze River is very magnificent, with snow capped mountains, ice peaks, boundless grassland, blue sky and white clouds reflected in the river, which constitutes a beautiful and refreshing scenery. The headwaters of the Yangtze River reserve and Kekexili nature reserve are intersecting, and the west of the Reserve belongs to Kekexili nature reserve and Tanggulashan town. Comparison of water quantity: among the three sources, Dangqu has the largest water quantity and the longest length.

Traditional classification

Zhengyuan branch connects Tianhe

Historical changes: 1) ga'erqu flows into Buqu (the section of Qinghai Tibet Railway in Tanggulashan town mainly runs along Buqu). This section was formerly known as Tongtian River (as the upper section), which is generally called Buqu, and the place where it flows into Buqu was formerly known as Tongtian River "Tongtian Heyan" (there is Tuotuo Heyan in the North), we can see the confluence of Buqu, ga'erqu, Dongqu, etc., that is, before the confluence of Dangqu, Tongtian River was called in ancient times, and Dangqu was regarded as a tributary; 2) after investigation in 1976, Tuotuo River was considered as the main source, so we made two renames: one is to change the old name of Tongtian Heyan to ga'erqu, and the other is to change the name of Tongtian River after the confluence of Tuotuo River At that time, "the upper part of Tongtian River" was regarded as the largest tributary of Dangqu according to the length of the river, which reversed the primary and secondary status of the two and regarded Tuotuo River as the only positive source of Tongtian River; 3) however, Tongtian River Station was set up at present, taking into account the customary address in history.

The Qinghai Tibet railway is located in Tanggulashan town. There are Tuotuo River Station in the north, Tongtian River Station in the middle and Yanshiping station in the South (it should not be Yanshiping town in Andou county). This shows that the branch of Tongtian River is not Tuotuo River, it is called Tongtian River. This is the first-class Tongtian River, because the Tuotuo River mouth is below it.

The first level is connected to Tianhe: there are three branches: this branch extends to Tanggula pass and Anduo county. The Qinghai Tibet railway mainly runs along it in Tanggula town area; the South Branch is Danqu; the North Branch is ladongqu (it has several branches).

It is worth understanding that the water volume of Tongtian River is not as large as that of Tuotuo River, so it is not paid much attention to. In the past, more attention was paid to Tuotuo River.

Nanyuan Dangqu

Dangqu, the south source of the Yangtze River, originates from the swamp at the foot of the eastern Tanggula mountains, which is the highest swamp in the world. In the north of Zaduo County, Yushu prefecture. Because of the largest amount of water and the longest length, it has been recognized as the source of the Yangtze River. In September 2008, after 41 days of scientific investigation on the source of the three rivers in Qinghai Province and a journey of more than 7300 kilometers, the "scientific investigation on the source of the three rivers" team led by Liu shaochuang, a famous river explorer, believed that the south source of the Yangtze River was the right source, overturning the traditional view that the Tuotuo River was the right source. Modern high-tech technologies such as global positioning system, geographic information system and remote sensing technology were used in this scientific examination, many of which were first used in the scientific examination of the source of the three rivers. According to the most advanced surveying and mapping instruments in the world, the longest tributary of Tuotuo River is 348.63 km, while that of Dangqu river is 360.34 km, 11.71 km longer than that of Tuotuo River. If this conclusion is recognized by the state, it means that the length of the Yangtze River will be updated and China's geography textbooks will be rewritten.

With a total length of 6392 km, the Yangtze River is the third largest river in the world. It originates from the plateau swamp of Zaduo County in the eastern part of Tanggula mountains. When Qu originates from the world's highest swamp and flows to the northwest, the second Tongtian River after nabuqu turns to the East and forms the third Tongtian River after Tuotuo River, the West source of the Yangtze River.

Xiyuan Tuotuo River

Tongtian River receives Tuotuo River and forms the third level Tongtian River.

Its western source is the Tuotuo River, and its source is the main peak of the Tanggula mountains in the south of Qinghai Province. It's in Tanggula hill.

In Tibetan, "Geladandong" means "high and sharp mountain". It is like a father's mountain, and its children are the gangjiaquba glacier with more than 70 modern glaciers under it. These 70 modern glaciers provide a continuous stream of glacial water for the Yangtze River. The two jiangguru glaciers on the southwest side clamp jiangguru snow peak like two tongs, while the longer glaciers on the south side are the real location of the source of the Yangtze River.

Tuotuo River, the West source of the Yangtze River, was born here. The name comes from Mongolian tuoketuonai Ulan Mulun (meaning slow Red River). Before the Ming Dynasty, the source of the Yangtze River was generally used in Yugong, a geography book of the Warring States period 2000 years ago, which said "Minshan leads the river". Minshan is not the Minshan in Sichuan, but a mountain in Tianshui County, Gansu Province. Of course, this statement is far from the actual situation, because this place is only the source of Jialing River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. In Ming Dynasty, Xu Xiake wrote "a textual research on the source of the river", pointing out that the source of the river should belong to the Jinsha River, but according to the principle of "the source of the river is only far away, and the flow is smooth and straight", he thought that the Tuotuo River is the source of the Yangtze River.

Chumar River in the North

Tongtian River receives chumar River and forms the fourth level Tongtian River.

Chumar River, the northern source of the Yangtze River, is also known as "Namu QITU Ulan Mulun" (Mongolian meaning red leaf River), also known as qumalai River and quma river. Originating from the southern branch of Kunlun Mountain, the southern foot of Heiji mountain of Kekexili mountain (under the jurisdiction of the Western Working Committee of Zhiduo county), with an altitude of 5432 meters, flows through duoergucuo (Stone Lake in Tibetan, yelusu Lake in Mongolian, Shahu) and flows into Tongtian River in Chula area west of qumalai county.

The lemaqu (Xiushui River) between the western and Northern sources is the seasonal river.

Understanding change

In ancient times, it was called Tongtian River, and the upper part was in Buqu

Ga'erqu flows into Buqu (the section of the Qinghai Tibet Railway in Tanggulashan town mainly runs along Buqu). This section was formerly known as Tongtian River (the upper part of the section), and the place where it joins Buqu was formerly known as "Tongtian River edge" (there is Tuotuo River edge in the North).

In 1976, the Tuotuo River was recognized as the main source

However, after the investigation in 1976, it was believed that the Tuotuo River was the main source, so it made two renames: one was to change the old name of Tongtian River to gaerquyan, and the other was to stipulate that the Tongtian River was named after the confluence of Tuotuo River. At that time, taking the length of the river course as the standard, the level of the river course changed several understandings.

In 2008, it was found that the water quantity of Daqu was the largest

However, after investigating the three major river systems at the source of the Yangtze River in 2008, the scientific investigation team of the source of the three rivers found that the length of Dangqu river is 16.6 km longer than that of Tuotuo River, the discharge of Dangqu river is 5 times larger than that of Tuotuo River, the drainage area of Dangqu river is 13300 square kilometers more than that of Tuotuo River, and the development degree of the river valley is relatively better, only the river direction is inconsistent with the mainstream direction of the Yangtze River. After a comprehensive analysis, the team suggested that the source of the Yangtze River (Zhengyuan) should be located in Qiqu of Dangqu after the results of the scientific examination passed the review and approval of the relevant procedures. ——But this proposal has not been adopted.

The idea of river trees regards Buqu as the main stream

River tree concept: Buqu is the trunk of Tongtian River, with two big branches on the left and right. Its standard is different from the length theory, which holds that rivers are like trees, and the left and right sides are roughly balanced.

Give consideration to historical appellation

In the contemporary Qinghai Tibet railway, Tongtianhe station is set up at the place historically known as Tongtian riverside, which is juxtaposed with Tuotuohe station (along the Tuotuohe River), taking into account the historical customary name. Because for a long time in history, Dangqu River and Tuotuo River were regarded as tributaries of Tongtian River. The river before they merged into Tongtian River was called Tongtian River, which became a folk name.

Some people think that the debate over whether the Tuotuo River or the Dangqu river is the source of the Yangtze River (Tongtian River) has only scientific research value, but also has to take care of the folk names.

Introduction to Dangqu

The Yangtze River has three sources: Dangqu in the south, chumar in the north and Tuotuo in the West. Nanyuan Dangqu, originated from the mountain swamp at the eastern foot of xiasheri ABA in the eastern part of Tanggula, is the true source of the Yangtze River. The length of the river is 360.34 km, and the drainage area is 30219 square kilometers

Chinese PinYin : Zhang Jiang Yuan Tou