The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia, flowing from the Tibetan Highlands right across China into the East Chinese sea. Its 6.300 km (3.915 miles) and is ice- free all year. The official name in Chinese is "Changjiang". The name "Yangtze" is only used for the lower reaches of the river, but became the official name used in western countries.

Not only are five of China's largest cities (Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Nanjing) on or near the river, but the 1.8 million square km Yangtze River basin is also home to 1/3 of Chinas population (400 million).

The Yangtze River is of major economic importance: The volume of transportation on the Yangtze River is higher than the total transportation of all other rivers in China together. The agricultural areas along the river produce nearly half of the countries total crop production, while most of the industrial hotspots are located here.

The climate at the yangtze river is as diverse as the river is long. The best time to take the Yangtze Cruise is in Spring and Autumn. That means April, May, September and October when the weather is cool and comfortable. These four months are often called high seasons. The best time in terms of price is in winter however the weather must be considered.

Yangtze River Facts

Yangtze River which flows through Qinghai Province, Tibet Region, Sichuan Province Yunnan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Jiangxi Province, Anhui Province and Shanghai City, is the longest river in China and the third longest one in the world. The Three Gorges section is the most important and famous section of the Yangtze River for both the water conservancy projects and tourism.

Chinese Pinyin: Cháng Jiāng

Origination: Tanggulashan Mountain

Length: 6300 kilometers

Location: Yangtze River is located at latitude between 24°30′and 35°45′N and longitude between 90°33′and 112°25′E.

Facts: Cruising on Yangtze River is very popular for both Chinese and foreign tourists. Usually, Yangtze Cruise starts at Chongqing and ends at Shanghai. The attractions along the cruising section are Fengdu Ghost City, Three Gorges Dam, Yichang and Wuhan.