Three Gorges of the Yangzi River: The Grand Canyons of China, Second Edition

From the wild windswept snowfields of its source in Tibet to the rich farmlands of its delta on the Yellow Sea, the mighty Yangzi has always had symbolic and practical significance for the Chinese. They refer to it simply as Changjiang, or Long River. Stretching for nearly 4,000 miles, the Yangzi is China's main artery, supporting a third of its people; it also serves as the country's main commercial waterway.Despite the legendary difficulties of navigation, the Yangzi River's magnificent Three Gorges have long attracted tourists for their grandeur and beauty. In this book, each of the gorges comes to life in a dramatic juxtaposition of bustling human activity on China's busiest waterway and soaring, breathtaking natural monuments that have inspired artists and travelers for millennia.This famous river and its spectacular gorges are now endangered by the world's largest dam project. This book summarizes the history, geography and local culture of this ancient and mythological region of China, with current information on its transformation. Millions of visitors pass along the great river without knowing the depths of its tradition or troubles. Three Gorges of the Yangzi River gives the best introduction to the area and its uncertain future.Richard Hayman is the author of 'Three Gorges of the Yangzi River: The Grand Canyons of China, Second Edition', published 2005 under ISBN 9789622177055 and ISBN 9622177050.