Tongtian River

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The Zhi Qu (Tibetan) or Tongtian River (Chinese: 通天河; pinyin: Tōngtiān Hé), is a 1,012 km (629 mi) long, flows within Qinghai Province of northwest China. It is begins at the confluence of Tuotuo River and Dangqu River, it flows towards southeast and becomes a Jinsha River near the border of Qinghai and Sichuan. It is within the Yangtze River Basin—Chang Jiang drainage basin.

Map including Tongtian River (labeled as T'ung-t'ien Ho) and surrounding region (DMA, 1975))

Name[]

The Chinese name comes from a fabled river in the Journey to the West. In antiquity, it was called the Yak River. In Mongolian, this section is known as the Murui-ussu (lit. "Winding Stream").[1] and sometimes confused with the nearby Baishui.[2]

Geography[]

The three principal headwaters—the Chumaer, Muluwusu, and Akedamu rivers—join to form the Tongtian River, which flows southeast to Zhimenda near the frontier between Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, where it becomes the Jinsha River (Jinsha Jiang).

The Jinsha River is a primary and westernmost tributary of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang).

The Tongtian River is one of the five large rivers flowing from headwaters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.[3] Its length is 1,012 kilometres, draining an area of 138,000 square kilometres. Pilgrims go to the river because it is mythical, but also it is known for its "sutra bridge" and "Gyiana Mani stones".[4]

Dams[]

The Tongtian is planned for heavy development, primarily for hydroelectric power. As of March 2014 a total of 10 dams are planned for the river. Those dams are listed below from downstream to upstream.[5][6]

  • – Planned, 176.8 MW
  • – Planned, 160.5 MW
  • – Planned, 158 MW
  • – Planned, 612 MW
  • – Planned, 112.8 MW
  • – Planned, 276.5 MW
  • – Planned, 200 MW
  • – Planned, 72 MW
  • – Planned, 63.6 MW
  • – Planned, 10.4 MW

See also[]

  • Index: Tributaries of the Yangtze River
  • List of rivers in China

References[]

  1. ^ Ravenstein, Ernest & al. (ed.). The Earth and Its Inhabitants, Vol. VII: "East Asia: Chinese Empire, Corea, and Japan," p. 199 Archived April 24, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. D. Appleton & Co. (New York), 1884. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  2. ^ Yule, Henry. The River of Golden Sand: The Narrative of a Journey Through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah, Vol. 1, p. 35 Archived May 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. "Introductory Essay." 1880. Reprint: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  3. ^ Baying Dongzhub Cerang (4 September 2004). "River discharge changes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau". Chinese Science Bulletin. 51 (5): 594–600. doi:10.1007/s11434-006-0594-6. S2CID 96348969. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  4. ^ "The Tongtian River, a mythical tributary". China Daily. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  5. ^ Dong, Luan. "INTERACTIVE: Mapping China's "Dam Rush"". Wilson Center. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  6. ^ "The Last Report on China's Rivers". China's Rivers Report. March 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.

External links[]

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