Rivers, lakes & waterways

Waterways are the historical lifeblood of Chinese civilization. The geography is dominated by two massive arteries: the Yangtze River (the longest in Asia) and the Yellow River (traditionally viewed as the cradle of Chinese civilization). The ancient Grand Canal, an engineering marvel, historically connected the prosperous south with the political north. China is also home to spectacular lakes, including the vast, high-altitude Qinghai Lake, the historically significant Poyang Lake, and the poetically celebrated West Lake in Hangzhou.