Flowing over 6275 km (3900 miles) from one end of China to the other, the Yangtze is vast, varied, and mysterious, like China itself. It rises in the highlands of Tibet, where glaciers drip and ooze to create a network of icy channels that join to form what the Chinese call simply Chang Jiang, the Long River. From here it snakes and cascades its way through some of the world's most spectacular scenery - precipitous mountains, narrow gorges, and lush lowlands of eastern China, made fertile by the mud spread by the river's frequent flooding. "Yangtze" follows the river on this fascinating and varied course. As it does so it explores many aspects of the river that have intrigued Chinese and westerners alike. It looks at the river's unique wildlife, from the dazzling colors of rhododendrons and camellias on its banks to the endangered creatures, such as the baiji river dolphin, that dwell in or on the banks of its waters. It describes the teeming human activity along the river - the fishing, farming, and trade that make it a lifeline and a livelihood for millions.
