The Lancang River is the longest
river flowing from north to south in China. It takes its source from the Zhaqu
of the Guangguori Peak of Tanggula Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, China. It
is called the Lancang River after it reaches Changdu. The river runs south until
it leaves China at the Nanla Bayout of Yunnan Province and therefrom changes its
name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The river finally empties into
the Pacific Ocean in the south of Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. As the longest
river in the Southeast Asia, the river has a total length of 2,354 kilometers
and a drainage basin area of 165,000 square kilometers. The Lancang River is
China's main artery of water carriage connecting Southeast Asian countries, and
it is reputed as the "Danube of the East". The Lancang River has important value
for travel industry, as the soil of the Lancang River valley is fertile, the
resources are rich, the products are plentiful, the riverside scenery is
beautiful, the ethical cultures and customs are special and the scenic spots and
historical sites are numerous.
The Lancang River is a fantastic
river with more than ten ethic minorities living along the river. In China, it
is the only river where so many nationalities are living. Boating down with the
current, tourists can view not only the rust-red water of the river, the white
clouds and green mountains of the riverside, but also the ethical cultures and
customs along the river.
The most beautiful scenic spots along
the riverside of the Lancang River are in the segment from Yunnan's Jinghong to
the Olive Basin, and it is the perfect representative and miniature of
Xishuangbanna City. As the topography becomes gentle in the area of Jinghong,
the Lancang River gradually becomes wider, the water no longer surge forward and
roar loudly, and it looks calm and tranquil. The abundant river water irrigate
the fertile soil and green plains of Xishuangbanna City, creating famous
cultures and customs of the Lancang River. Because of the low-lying topography
and hot and humid climate, the forest is more verdant, birds are always singing
and flowers are giving out their fragrance all year round. Along the broad both
sides of the Lancang River, the villages of Dai nationality stand one by one,
and there are numerous market towns, downtown streets, interlaced garden cities,
gumtree forests, olive forests, banana forests and grapefruit forests
everywhere.
The Grand Canyon of the Lancang River is
famous for not only its deep and long vale, but also the rushing water. The
river water is limpid and rushing in winter, but turbid and onrushing in summer.
As the river becoming narrow in the Grand Canyon, high waves are striking
against the banks and making a sound like thunder. What a fantastic spectacle!
Such steep mountains, deep valley and miraculous geographic structure are seldom
seen all over the world.