The Chang Jiang, also known as the Yangtze River or Yangzi River, is the longest river in China and ranks as the third-longest river in the world. It originates at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau and flows in a generally easterly direction for 6,236 kilometers (3,875 mi) before reaching the East China Sea.
The river's drainage basin covers approximately one-fifth of China's land area and supports nearly one-third of the nation's population. It is recognized as the fifth-largest primary river in the world by discharge volume. The longest source of the Yangtze is the Dam Qu River.