The 6,300-kilometre-long Yangtze, or ‘Chang Jiang’ (meaning ‘long river’ in Chinese), is the longest river in Asia and holds 40 percent of China’s freshwater.
Millions of people and a host of unique wildlife, from the ancient sturgeon to the reclusive giant panda, depend on the Yangtze for life.
What makes it unique
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1 1"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Giant Panda
Originating in the Tibetan Plateau, the Yangtze runs through 19 provinces, nourishing the Yangtze River Basin before emptying into the East China Sea.
Only in the highland forests in its upper reaches can you find the beloved giant panda. Apart from the giant panda, the Yangtze River Basin supports a dazzling variety of animal species, many on the brink of extinction. The red panda, Chinese alligator, Chinese giant salamander, Yangtze sturgeon, golden monkey and many others share the habitat of the giant panda.
Endearing and most loved of the bears, the giant panda is an umbrella species—the conservation of the forest home of the giant panda also benefits the other species that share its habitat.
