The Han River, also known by its Chinese names Hanshui (Chinese: 汉水) and Han Jiang (汉江), is a major river in Central China. A left tributary of the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia, it has a length of 1,532 km (952 mi) and is the longest tributary of the Yangtze system.
The river gave its name to the ancient Chinese Han dynasty, which marked one of ancient China's first golden ages and through it, to the Han Chinese, the dominant ethnic group in modern China and the most populous ethnic group in the world.[1] It is also the namesake of the city of Hanzhong on its upper course.
The headwaters of the Han flow from Mount Bozhong in southwestern Shaanxi.[2] The stream then travels east across the southern part of that province.[2] Its highland valley—known as the Qinba Laolin[a]—divides and is protected by the Qinling or Qin Mountains to its north and the Dabashan or Daba Mountains to its south.[2] The main cities are Hanzhong in the west and Ankang in the east. It then enters Hubei. It crosses most of Hubei from the northwest to the southeast, flowing into the Yangtze at the provincial capital Wuhan,[2] a city of several million inhabitants. The merging rivers divide the city of Wuhan into three sections: Wuchang in the south, Hankou to the northeast of the confluence, and Hanyang to its southwest. The area surrounding the confluence is known as the Jianghan Plain.[2]
Apart from a few major basins, such as the area around Hanzhong, the highlands of the Han were covered in primeval forests as late as the 19th century. The Nanshan Forest covered the northern slopes; the Bashan Forest, the southern.[3]
The river was previously considered holy by the inhabitants on its banks.[2] It is also considered part of the dividing line between northern and southern China.[2]
^Also known in Chinese as "one river enclosed by two mountains" (Liangshan Jia Yichuan).[2]
Referencesedit
^Liu, Xingwu (2004). "Han". In Ember, Carol R.; Ember, Melvin (eds.). Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology. Springer US. pp. 703–17. doi:10.1007/0-387-29905-X_73. ISBN978-0-306-47754-6. The name 'Han' was derived from the Han River, an upper tributary of the Yangtze River. It was further strengthened by the famous Han Empire (206 BC–220 AD) which lasted for several hundred years when the people began active interactions with the outside world.
^ abcdefghWang Wensheng, White Lotus Rebels and South China Pirates, p. 54.
river, hubei, shaanxi, other, rivers, called, river, river, also, known, chinese, names, hanshui, chinese, 汉水, jiang, 汉江, major, river, central, china, left, tributary, yangtze, longest, river, asia, length, longest, tributary, yangtze, system, riverhan, jiang. For other rivers called Han see Han River The Han River also known by its Chinese names Hanshui Chinese 汉水 and Han Jiang 汉江 is a major river in Central China A left tributary of the Yangtze the longest river in Asia it has a length of 1 532 km 952 mi and is the longest tributary of the Yangtze system Han RiverHan Jiang HanshuiThe Han River in WuhanMap highlighting watershed of the Han JiangNative name汉江LocationCountryChinaRegionShaanxi HubeiCitiesHanzhong Ankang Shiyan Xiangyang WuhanPhysical characteristicsSourceNear Hanzhong locationQin Mountains Shaanxi coordinates33 08 32 N 106 49 42 E 33 14222 N 106 82833 E 33 14222 106 82833 elevation580 m 1 900 ft MouthYangtze River locationWuhan Hubei coordinates30 33 52 N 114 17 30 E 30 56444 N 114 29167 E 30 56444 114 29167 elevation75 m 246 ft Length1 532 km 952 mi Northwest southeastBasin size174 300 km2 67 300 sq mi Discharge average1 632 m3 s 57 600 cu ft s maximum33 500 m3 s 1 180 000 cu ft s Basin featuresRiver systemYangtze River basinTributaries leftXun Dan Bai River China zh Fushui River rightDu Chi Nan MumaHan RiverTraditional Chinese漢江Simplified Chinese汉江Literal meaningHan RiverTranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinHanjiangWade GilesHan Chiang Traditional Chinese漢水Simplified Chinese汉水Literal meaningHan River not Han water TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinHanshuǐWade GilesHan shuiThe river gave its name to the ancient Chinese Han dynasty which marked one of ancient China s first golden ages and through it to the Han Chinese the dominant ethnic group in modern China and the most populous ethnic group in the world 1 It is also the namesake of the city of Hanzhong on its upper course Contents 1 Geography 2 Hydroelectric Projects 3 Culture 4 See also 5 Explanatory notes 6 ReferencesGeography editThe headwaters of the Han flow from Mount Bozhong in southwestern Shaanxi 2 The stream then travels east across the southern part of that province 2 Its highland valley known as the Qinba Laolin a divides and is protected by the Qinling or Qin Mountains to its north and the Dabashan or Daba Mountains to its south 2 The main cities are Hanzhong in the west and Ankang in the east It then enters Hubei It crosses most of Hubei from the northwest to the southeast flowing into the Yangtze at the provincial capital Wuhan 2 a city of several million inhabitants The merging rivers divide the city of Wuhan into three sections Wuchang in the south Hankou to the northeast of the confluence and Hanyang to its southwest The area surrounding the confluence is known as the Jianghan Plain 2 Apart from a few major basins such as the area around Hanzhong the highlands of the Han were covered in primeval forests as late as the 19th century The Nanshan Forest covered the northern slopes the Bashan Forest the southern 3 nbsp Satellite view of the Han River near Yangxipu in Yunyang District HubeiHydroelectric Projects editDanjiangkou Dam was constructed on the Han River in northern Hubei in 1958 It has been heightened since The Danjiangkou Reservoir created thereby is now used as part of the South North Water Transfer Project Culture editThe river was previously considered holy by the inhabitants on its banks 2 It is also considered part of the dividing line between northern and southern China 2 See also editXihan River the Western Han Explanatory notes edit Also known in Chinese as one river enclosed by two mountains Liangshan Jia Yichuan 2 References edit Liu Xingwu 2004 Han In Ember Carol R Ember Melvin eds Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology Springer US pp 703 17 doi 10 1007 0 387 29905 X 73 ISBN 978 0 306 47754 6 The name Han was derived from the Han River an upper tributary of the Yangtze River It was further strengthened by the famous Han Empire 206 BC 220 AD which lasted for several hundred years when the people began active interactions with the outside world a b c d e f g h Wang Wensheng White Lotus Rebels and South China Pirates p 54 Wang p 55 nbsp This article related to a river in China is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Han River Hubei and Shaanxi amp oldid 1175942959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
