The Path o/t Yellow River through China (2b) Middle Reaches -
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
The Yellow River is China's second longest river, measuring some 5464 kilometers (3,395 miles) in length. It is the world's 6th longest river.
The Yellow River is known in Chinese as Huang He and also as Huang Ho depending on spelling.
The drainage basin of the Yellow River, known as the Yellow River basin, is the third largest of all rivers in China (P.R.C.), encompassing a surface area of around 750,000 square kilometers
(290,000 square miles)(official: 742,443 km² (290,520 mi²).
It extends 1900 kilometers (1.180 miles) from West to East and 1100 km (684 miles) from
South to North.
The China Report
Introduction to the Yellow River (Huang He - 黃河) - China's 2nd largest River
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Yellow River in Shaanxi Province:
The Yellow River enters Shaanxi Province in the extreme North-East at Hequ Village. The Yellow River does not flow through Shaanxi Province, but rather around it. After cutting through the Ningxia Plain and turning eastward at the resoundings sands gorge in Inner-Mongolia the yellow river continues through the Inner-Mongolia Autonomous Region then turns due South to form the border between Shaanxi Province in the West and Shanxi Province in the East.
On this south-ward section lie various historic sites and one of the wonders of the river. Counted as one of the Great Sceneries in Shaanxi (and Shanxi Province) is the point of the interruption of the Great Wall of China by the Yellow River at Pian Guan (North-West Shanxi + Shaanxi Border). This location is known as the Great Yellow River at Old Ox Bend. On a Cliff overlooking its Banks stands the Great Wall of China which has its most spectacular watchtower and views here.
The wonder in case are the Hukou Falls of the Yellow River. Hukou Falls can be found just west of the Town of YiXian on the West-Shanxi and East-Shaanxi Border.
Yellow River in Inner-Mongolia Autonomous Region:
After passing through the 'Northern Great Wall' in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region the Yellow River continues its course northward into Inner-Mongolia Autonomous Region. Within Mongolia the Yellow River is known as 'Hatan Gol', the Queen river.
The first City along the yellow river in Inner-Mongolia is Wuhai. The next is Linhe, where the river is deflected by the High Mountains of Lang Shan and Yin Shan, turning almost 90 degrees into the resounding Sands Gorge, a spectaculair scenic spot in the Region.
From the Resonant Sands Gorge the yellowed waters flow slowly eastward for some 320 kilometers before turning again by 90 degrees and heading towards the south forming the line of Shaanxi-Shanxi Border. Along this 'horizontal' stretch of the Yellow River lies the important City of Baotou, a major industrial center of the North.
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You Tube Video:Yellow River Hukou Falls
Several smaller and larger tributary rivers join the Yellow River while it flows between the Provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi. The first of these is the Kuye River, flowing from the nominally arid ordos region in north Shaanxi Province via Shenmu City (of Yulin Prefecture) south-eastward to join the Huang He at the Luoyu Gorge and Luoyukouzhen Village. Shenmu is a legendary spot. Another tributary joins the Yellow River from the East and Shanxi Province at the same point.
The second tributary joining from the West is Tuwei River which joins up somewhat further south at Wujia Maocun farming town. The Tuwei flows out of Hongjian Nur, a salted lake on the Shaanxi-Inner Mongolia Border, then crosses the Province to empty in the great river. A Third and smaller tributary, the Jialu River flows out of Shaanxi just North of the Baiyun Mountain (Due West of Linxian in Shanxi, across the River). Several other small rivers join up before the River reaches Hukou Falls. The Houhe, the Wuding He, Shijia River etc.
Downstream from the Hukou Falls, roughly at the entrance of the Sanmenxia Reservoir the Yellow River is joined from the East by a major Tributary, the river Fen.
Soundbonus - Traditional Mongolian Long Song, performed by: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.
View of the Yellow River snaking through 'Jinshan Valley' of the Yellow River on the border of Shaanxi and Shanxi Province.
The River Fen can be seen in the forefront on its way to join the Yellow River near the head of the Sanmenxia Reservoir. - Click Image to Enlarge -
Yellow River - Huang He : Menu
Baotou is a city of over 2 million which has few landmarks and lies among bleak semi-desert regions with few recognizable features other than low hills and abundant but arid grasslands and steppes. Before the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China and the development of heavy industry in the North, there were only empty grasslands, sporadic trees and some swamp area's along the slow flowing yellow river. Deer were abundant in this region owing the City its name 'Land with Deer'.
Since, much has changed and Baotou has become a major industrial center as well as a transportation hub for person and cargo. Railroads lead in all direction, among them to Beijing at some 817 kilometers distance.
In 1958 AD the City of Baotou was connected through a railway to Yinchuan in Ningxia and the City of Lanzhou on the Yellow River in Gansu Province beyond, finally unlocking the remote far western regions. One can follow the railroad all the way from Baotou, upstream, to lead around the Great Bend of the Yellow River and among things- pass through Resounding Sands Gorge. It is one of the most famous and scenic railways in the Nation which runs near or alongside the River at many points.
A steel Mill stands along the Yellow River as part of the Western Section of the 20+ kilometers long city spread along the North Bank of the Huang He. Four Tributary rivers flow down through the urban zone(s) of Baotou in a north-south direction to empty in the Yellow River, which at this point is a wide, shallow and slow flowing stream. These are the Kundulun River, the Sidoasha River, the Erdaosha River and the Dong He, a smaller stream. Just 15 miles beyond the City of Baotou a further fifth tributary , Hashen Lachuan, joins from the South. Further along a second small tributary as well as the Husitai River flow in from the south to add to the waters of the Yellow River.
Some 60+ miles downstream from Baotou near Togtoh the Yellow River is crossed by the Huanghe Superlarge Bridge, part of the S103 Huba Expressway Toll road leading northward to Hohhot. After passing the super-modern and super-large bridge the great Yellow River makes its '90 degrees' turn southward near a place called Lamawanzhen. Beyond this point lies the 'Jinshan Gorge' of the Yellow River, a narrower and often fast-flowing section famous for its historic landmarks as well as the one major waterfall on the entire length of the Great River.
