长江

　　长江发源于青藏高原唐古拉山主峰——各拉丹冬雪峰，流经青海、西藏、四川、云南、重庆、湖北、湖南、江西、安徽、江苏、上海等11个省、市、自治区，注入东海，全长6,300多千米，为中国第一、世界第三长河。

　　长江上游落差大，水流急，有许多高山耸峙的峡谷地段，如虎跳峡、三峡等。

　　虎跳峡

　　虎跳峡位于云南省丽江纳西族自治县境内，长约16千米，两岸山岭高出江面3,000米以上，水流落差达200米，江水咆哮。江面最窄处不到30米，相传有巨虎一跃而过，所以称为“虎跳峡”。

　　长江出三峡后，进入中游的平原地区。这里江面变宽，水流减缓。多曲流、多支流、多湖泊是这一段的主要特征。

　　长江下游地区地势低平，江阔水深，是著名的鱼米之乡。长江入海口处，江面宽达80～90千米，水天一色，极为壮观。

　　长江不但具有巨大的航运价值，被称为“黄金水道”，而且两岸的自然风光绚丽多姿，名胜古迹众多。

　　长江流域物产丰富，经济发达。上海、南京、武汉、重庆等大城市都分布在这里。

　　Yangtze River

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

　　The upper reaches of the Yangtze feature a big vertical drop, with torrents and many gorges flanked by towering mountains, such as the Tiger-Jumping Gorge, Three Gorges, and so on.

　　The Tiger-Jumping Gorge

　　Located in Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County of Yunnan Province, the Tiger-Jumping 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 reaches 200 m. At its narrowest point, the gorge is only 30 m wide. It is said that there was once a huge tiger that jumped over it, hence the name "Tiger-Jumping Gorge".

　　After the Three Gorges, one reaches 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 the famous land of fish and rice, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are low and flat, as well as broad and deep. At the spot where the Yangtze enters the sea, the river is 80 ?90 km wide, where the water and sky blend into one splendid color.

　　Reputed to be "Golden Watercourse", the Yangtze River has not only a high value for shipping, but also beautiful natural scenery and many scenic spots and historical sites.

　　The drainage area of the Yangtze River is rich in products and the economy is well developed. Many metropolises like Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing are distributed here.