Longchuanjiang River in Tengchong, Baoshan
Longchuan River 腾冲市龙川江is a tributary of the Irrawaddy River within Yunnan Province, part of the Irrawaddy River system. It originates on the western side of Gaoligong Mountain in Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province and the southern border of the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. The river originates at an altitude of about 3400 meters above sea level, with a main stream length of approximately 312 kilometers and a basin area of about 10,820 square kilometers. The river width ranges from 40 to 300 meters, with a natural drop of over 2600 meters. It belongs to the Irrawaddy River system and is a primary tributary on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River. The Longchuan River has an average annual water flow of about 9 billion cubic meters and flows through more than 10 towns including Tengchong County, Longling County, and Luxi City. After merging with the Mangshi River in the southwest of Luxi City, it is called the Ruili River.
The Longchuan River is one of the areas in Yunnan Province closest to the Indian Ocean, heavily influenced by the southwestern monsoon from the Indian Ocean during summer and autumn. Annual rainfall can reach over 3000 mm, typically averaging around 2000 mm, with some additional rainfall originating from the Gulf of Tonkin.
Longchuan River Cascade Development The Longchuan River has a total length of 125.2 kilometers, a basin area of approximately 5800 square kilometers, a natural elevation difference of 322.2 meters, and an average slope of about 2.58‰. It is another ideal medium-sized hydropower development river in our city besides the Supa River and Binlang River. The Longchuan River Basin was planned in 1994 and approved by the provincial government. Baoshan City plans to arrange 9 cascade hydropower stations, namely Dipanguan, Yawushan, Shangzhai, Qushi, Longjiang Level I, Longjiang Level II, Longjiang Level III, Tenglongqiao, and Lazhai, with a total installed capacity of about 320,000 kilowatts. With changes in regional economic and social development and hydropower development conditions, adjustments and revisions to the Longchuan River hydropower development plan are necessary. The revised plan proposes to arrange a total of 19 cascade power stations from Dipanguan to Nongling, with a total installed capacity of 458,810 kilowatts. Among them, Dipanguan Reservoir Power Station has 8,000 kilowatts, Malutang Hydropower Station has 2,000 kilowatts (already built), Yawushan Hydropower Station has 1,120 kilowatts (already built), Dashifang Hydropower Station has 640 kilowatts (already built), Huazhiba Hydropower Station has 1,600 kilowatts (under construction), Tiangsheng Bridge Hydropower Station has 6,000 kilowatts, Jiangyuan Hydropower Station has 4,800 kilowatts (already built), Shizhu Hydropower Station has 5,000 kilowatts, Qushi Hydropower Station has 6,400 kilowatts (under construction), Longjiang Level I Hydropower Station has 24,000 kilowatts, Longjiang Level II Hydropower Station has 20,000 kilowatts (already built), Longjiang Level III Hydropower Station has 6,250 kilowatts (already built), Longwenqiao Hydropower Station has 12,000 kilowatts, Qiaojie Hydropower Station has 16,000 kilowatts, Dapingtian Hydropower Station has 12,000 kilowatts, Tenglongqiao Level I Hydropower Station has 60,000 kilowatts, Tenglongqiao Level II Hydropower Station has 45,000 kilowatts, Lazhai Hydropower Station has 120,000 kilowatts, and Nongling Level Hydropower Station (equivalent to the shell Hydropower Station) has 108,000 kilowatts.
The development of the Longchuan River is a key focus for Baoshan City during the 11th Five-Year Plan and beyond. After completing the planning and revisions, which have been approved, the development strictly follows the established plans. Any hydropower stations to be constructed in river sections not originally included in the plan require technical, economic, and environmental feasibility studies.
During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the main tasks for the Longchuan River include completing the construction tasks of the following hydropower stations: Lazhai with 120,000 kilowatts, Tenglongqiao Level I and II with a total of 105,000 kilowatts, Nongling equivalent shell with 108,000 kilowatts, Shizhu with 5,000 kilowatts, and Longjiang Level I with 24,000 kilowatts. From 2011 to 2020, development efforts focused on Dipanguan, Tiangsheng Bridge, Longwenqiao, Qiaojie, and Dapingtian cascades, integrating the necessary river regulation functions with preparatory work for the Dipanguan head reservoir and downstream power stations, ensuring timely development.
Longchuan River Rafting
Longchuan River rafting is located in Linjiawan, Qushi Town, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, approximately 30 kilometers from the city center. The area is surrounded by attractions such as Tengchong Volcano Park, Heiyu River, columnar joints, and Beihai Wetland. The rafting experience on the Longchuan River features gentle currents and meandering channels, with a width of up to nearly 100 meters and depths reaching nearly ten meters. The rafting route spans 5.20 kilometers from the starting point at Linjiawan, Qushi to the endpoint at Yongji Bridge, Qushi.
Along the way, visitors encounter cultural landmarks such as the Yue Lao Tan (Old Man Yue’s Pool), River Bay Hot Springs, Lotus Pond Romance, Mountain and Water Harmony, Millennium Love (Lovers’ Forest), Mud Cow Rafting, Golden Bull Gorge, Listening Cloud Spring, Enlightenment Stone Zen, Spring Wind Bridge, Snow Moon Flowing Smoke, Fish King Cave Mansion, Mud Cliff Water Curtain, Anzhi Ting Lan, Puji Tang, and Yongji Bridge, featuring sixteen local stories and natural landscapes.
