Top Main Rivers in Yunnan Province

Yunnan is home to over 600 rivers, which belong to six major river systems that stretch across three seas and three bays, ultimately flowing into the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The Irrawaddy River (伊洛瓦底江) flows from north to south in a unique path, the Nu River (怒江) roars through the China-Myanmar border, the Lancang River (澜沧江) connects six countries like the “Danube of the East,” the Jinsha River (金沙江) nourishes 28.5% of Yunnan’s land, and the Yuanjiang (元江) and Nanpan River (南盘江) give birth to the legends of the Honghe (红河) and Zhujiang (珠江) Rivers.

01. Overview of Yunnan’s Water Systems

Yunnan is a province crisscrossed with rivers, making its water systems incredibly complex. With over 600 rivers, 180 of which are large rivers, Yunnan’s rivers are crucial for the province’s agricultural irrigation and hydropower. These rivers mainly serve as the upper reaches of rivers that flow into the sea, spread throughout the province. The rivers of Yunnan belong to six major water systems: the Irrawaddy (伊洛瓦底江), Nu (怒江), Lancang (澜沧江), Jinsha (金沙江), Yuan (元江), and Nanpan (南盘江) River Systems. These rivers flow into three seas and three bays, including the Andaman Sea (安达曼海), Motama Bay (莫踏马湾), Bengal Bay (孟加拉湾), East China Sea (东海), Beibu Gulf (北部湾), and the South China Sea (南海), eventually merging into two oceans: the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

02. Irrawaddy River System (伊洛瓦底江水系)

The Irrawaddy River system is one of Yunnan’s six major water systems, distinguished by its unique north-to-south flow, which is rare among domestic rivers. This river flows through multiple countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The river has a distinctive ecosystem and is rich in aquatic biodiversity, providing invaluable natural resources for the regions it passes through.

In Yunnan, the Irrawaddy River system flows through Nujiang (怒江) Prefecture, Baoshan (保山) region, and Dehong (德宏) Prefecture, with a total length of over 600 kilometers. Its average annual runoff reaches 36.3 billion cubic meters, making it one of the richest systems in water yield per unit area in Yunnan.

03. Nu River System (怒江水系)

The Nu River system, a major international river system between China and Myanmar, is famous for its deep valleys and roaring rapids. Its source is located at the southern foothills of the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau. After flowing into Yunnan, it cuts through Nujiang (怒江) Prefecture, Baoshan (保山), Lincang (临沧), and Dehong (德宏) Prefectures. The river finally crosses into Myanmar, where it is renamed the Salween River (萨尔温江), flowing into the Indian Ocean. The total length of the Nu River is 1,540 kilometers, with 547 kilometers flowing through Yunnan.

04. Lancang River System (澜沧江水系)

The Lancang River, originating from Qinghai (青海) in China, is often called the “Danube of the East.” This river is an international waterway, flowing through six countries. It begins in the Tanggula Mountains in Qinghai, passes through Tibet, and enters Yunnan, flowing through Diqing (迪庆) Prefecture, Nujiang (怒江) Prefecture, Dali (大理) Prefecture, Baoshan (保山) region, Lincang (临沧), and Xishuangbanna (西双版纳). Upon leaving Yunnan at Mengla (勐腊) County, the river becomes the Mekong (湄公河), which continues through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea.

05. Jinsha River System (金沙江水系)

The Jinsha River is a major tributary of the Yangtze River and flows through Yunnan. It originates from the Tanggula Mountains in Qinghai, passing through southeastern Tibet and southwestern Sichuan before entering Yunnan at Deqin (德钦) County. The Jinsha River flows through Diqing (迪庆), Lijiang (丽江), Dali (大理), Chuxiong (楚雄), Qujing (曲靖), and Zhaotong (昭通) Prefectures. The total length of the main stream is 1,560 kilometers, with a catchment area occupying 28.5% of the total area of Yunnan.

06. Yuan River System (元江水系)

The Yuan River, originating in the western part of Yunnan, flows into the Red River (红河). It is an essential tributary of the Honghe (红河) River, passing through several regions before entering Vietnam. The Yuan River system provides significant support to the local agriculture and ecological environment. The Yuan River itself, along with its major tributaries, forms a diverse water network.

07. Nanpan River System (南盘江水系)

The Nanpan River is an important part of the Yuan River system. It originates from the Ma Xiong Mountain (马雄山) in Qujing (曲靖), flowing through multiple regions before converging with the Ba River (巴江) in Yiliang (宜良), forming the Nanpan River Gorge (南盘江峡谷). The Nanpan River Gorge and its confluence are known for their unique natural and historical cultural significance. The Nanpan River is crucial in the Pearl River Basin.

Yunnan’s Top 10 Rivers:

1. Jinsha River (金沙江): The upper reach of the Yangtze River, with a length of 1,560 kilometers in Yunnan. (Fig. 1)

2. Nu River (怒江): Originates from the Tanggula Mountains in Tibet, flows into Myanmar where it becomes the Salween River, with a total length of 3,240 kilometers and 650 kilometers within Yunnan. (Fig. 2)

3. Lancang River (澜沧江): The upper part of the Mekong River, originating in Qinghai, with a total length of 4,880 kilometers, 2,161 kilometers within China, and 1,247 kilometers in Yunnan. (Fig. 3)

4. Yangbi River (漾濞江): The second-largest tributary of the Lancang River, also the largest tributary of the Lancang River in Yunnan, with a total length of 334 kilometers. (Fig. 4)

5. Yuan River (元江): Originates from the western part of Yunnan’s Ailao Mountains (哀牢山), part of the upper reaches of the Red River, flowing through Yuanyang (元阳) and entering Vietnam as the Red River. Its length in Yunnan is 677 kilometers. (Fig. 5)

6. Nanpan River (南盘江): Originates from the Ma Xiong Mountain in Qujing, with a total length of 914 kilometers, and flows 651 kilometers in Yunnan. (Fig. 6)

7. Beipan River (北盘江): Originates from Zhanyi (沾益) District in Yunnan, flows into the Hongshui River, with a total length of 449 kilometers, and 122 kilometers in Yunnan. (Fig. 7)

8. Dulong River (独龙江): A tributary of the Irrawaddy River, flowing through the western part of the Hengduan Mountains, with a total length of 250 kilometers. (Fig. 8)

9. Longjiang River (龙江): Originates from the western side of Gaoligong Mountain, passing through Tengchong (腾冲) to the Rui Li River, with a total length of 332 kilometers. (Fig. 9)

10. Luzhi River (绿汁江): A tributary of the Yuan River, originating in Wuding (武定) County in Chuxiong (楚雄), with a total length of 294 kilometers.