Asian Waters–China’s Vital West River (Xi Jiang)

China’s busy Xi River is the third of the three great rivers that flow across China from east to west. In order they are the Yellow River, Yangtze and Xi River.The Xi is formed in Wuzhou by the joining of the Gui and Xun River.The river flows eastward and empties into the Pearl River Delta, one of the most important manufacturing centers on earth, and the site of a mega-city not seen before.

The Xi river’s 2,197 km of waterway stays unfrozen year round allowing transport to go upriver as far as Wuzhou where small river boats can take cargo further inland. At its eastern end, the Xi River supplies water to Guangxi, Guangdong and Macau. Waterways and rivers like the Xi have long been the mainstay of Chinese life and commerce and will surely do so for a long, long time to come.

Photo: Wikimedia commons

Map:lahistoriconmpas