Linjiang Yalu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

Linjiang Yalu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

The Linjiang Yalu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area is a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Yalu River was originally an inland river in China but is now the border river between China and North Korea. The North Korean islands in the river—such as Ssuk Island and Sin Island—are connected to the Chinese mainland. Currently, the river mouth is shared by both countries. The Yalu River originates from the southern foothills of Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province. In its upper reaches, it was formerly called Jianchuan Gully. In the initial stage of its flow, it heads southward from its source, passing through the Changbai Korean Autonomous County, then turns northwest through Linjiang City before turning southwest. The main stream flows through both Jilin and Liaoning provinces and empties into the West Korea Bay of the northern Yellow Sea near Donggang City, Dandong, Liaoning Province. The Yalu River is 795 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 61,900 square kilometers and an annual runoff of 32.76 billion cubic meters. It has several tributaries, including the Hun River, the Husan River, and the Tulu River. It also features several large and medium-sized hydroelectric power stations, such as the Supung Dam and the Taipingwan Dam.

Name Origin

In ancient times, it was called various names. According to historical records, the Jianzhou Jurchens lived along the banks of the Pochon River (a tributary of the Yalu River) all year round. There are two main theories about the origin of the name “Yalu.” One theory suggests it comes from the language of the Manchu ancestors (called Yalu ula in Manchu, meaning “river of the border”). Historical texts state that the Jianzhou Guard Jurchens lived along the banks of the Pochon River (a tributary of the Yalu). Another theory says the river was named for the color of its waters, which resemble the color of a duck’s head (as recorded in the Tang Dynasty by Du You in the Tongdian). A second explanation is that the name comes from the confluence of two tributaries in the upper reaches—the Ya River and the Lu River—which combined to form what is now called the “Yalu River.”

River System Composition

Source

The Yalu River originates from the southern foothills of Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province.

Main Stream

The Yalu River main stream flows along the China-North Korea border from northeast to southwest, passing through the Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Linjiang City, and Ji’an City in Jilin Province, and Dandong City in Liaoning Province, as well as Sinuiju in North Korea, before emptying into the West Korea Bay of the northern Yellow Sea near Donggang, Liaoning. The main stream of the Yalu River is 795 kilometers long, with 575 kilometers in Jilin Province and 220 kilometers in Liaoning Province. Its annual runoff is 32.76 billion cubic meters, of which 36% occurs from July to September, peaking in August at 15% and reaching a minimum of 5.9% in February. The annual sediment transport is 1.13 million tons, mainly silt. Sediment concentration from July to September ranges from 0.48 kg to 0.72 kg per cubic meter, and 0.17 kg to 0.46 kg in other months.

Tributaries

The major tributaries of the Yalu River within North Korea include the Husan River, the Changjin River, the Chichong River, the Tulu River, and the Chungman River. Within China, the major tributaries include the Hun River, the Pushi River, and the Yuan River.

Hun River

Also known as the Hunjiang, it is located in the southeastern part of Jilin Province and the northeastern part of Liaoning Province, and is a tributary of the Yalu River, which flows into the Yellow Sea. It forms the boundary between Kuandian County in Dandong, Liaoning, and Huanren County in Benxi. The Hun River originates from Har Yafan Mountain in the northern part of Baishan City, Jilin Province. It flows through Huanren County and four townships in Kuandian County, including Qingshan Gully and Taipingwan, collecting tributaries such as the Nancha River, Zhengcha River, Taiyangcha River, Licha River, Hongtuya River, Banshi River, Heigou River, and Hanzonggou River, before finally joining the Yalu River at the Hunjiangkou in Xiayulu. The Hun River is 445 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 15,044 square kilometers, making it the largest tributary of the Yalu River system.

Yuan River

Located in the central part of Dandong City, Liaoning Province, it is one of the larger tributaries of the Yalu River system. The Yuan River originates from Muduozi Ridge in Shuangshanzi Town, Kuandian County, flowing through Kuandian County, Fengcheng City, and Zhen'an District of Dandong City, before joining the Yalu River at Jiuliancheng. The Yuan River is 189 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 5,902 square kilometers and an annual runoff of 3.149 billion cubic meters.

Pushi River

Located in Dandong City, Liaoning Province, it is one of the larger tributaries of the Yalu River system. The Pushi River originates from Beisifangdingzi in Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, and flows from north to south across the entire county. It joins the Yalu River about 5 kilometers downstream from the Taipingwan Reservoir. The Pushi River is 121.8 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 1,212 square kilometers and an average annual runoff of 800 million cubic meters.

Tulu River

Located in the northern part of North Korea, it originates from Mount Sobaek in the southwestern part of the Rangrim Mountains. Along its course, it collects tributaries such as the Qianchuan and Nanchuan, and flows from south to north into the Yalu River. The Tulu River is 238.5 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 5,207 square kilometers, making it the largest tributary on the North Korean side of the Yalu River system.

Husan River

Located in the northern part of North Korea, it originates from the Pujolli Mountain Range and flows from south to north across the central part of the Kaema Plateau, joining the Yalu River about 4 kilometers southwest of Mount Hwang. The Husan River is 210.7 kilometers long, with a drainage area of 4,948 square kilometers, making it one of the larger tributaries on the North Korean side of the Yalu River system.

Hydrological Features

River Elevation Drop

The Yalu River has a significant elevation drop, with an average gradient of 1.7‰. The source section has an elevation of 1,000–1,500 meters above sea level, with an average gradient as high as 9.05‰. From Changbai to Linjiang, the river is flanked by continuous high mountains, with deep river valleys, winding channels, and difficult navigation. Below Linjiang, the mountainous terrain gradually lowers, and the river gradient becomes gentler. At the confluence with the Hun River, the average slope is 0.75‰. Below the Supung Dam, the channel gradually widens, entering the mid-to-lower reaches where the water flow branches and sandbars are widespread. Near Mashitai in Jiuliancheng, it becomes a tidal-influenced section. Downstream to the mouth, it enters the tidal zone. The 59-kilometer section from the Supung Dam to the Aihe River mouth is 400–500 meters wide, with an average gradient of 1‰. The 28-kilometer section from the river mouth to Langtou is about 500–1,000 meters wide, with an average gradient of 0.5‰.

Hydraulic Resources

The Yalu River flows through the Changbai Mountain region, where the valleys are steep and narrow with a high gradient, offering hydropower potential of 2.3 million kilowatts. Both the main stream and its tributaries have favorable sites for dam construction. The Aihe River tributary alone has a hydropower potential of 250,000 kilowatts. As of 2006, nine power stations had been built on the Aihe River, with a total installed capacity of 9,368 kilowatts and an annual electricity generation of 34.71 million kWh. The Supung Power Station is the first large-scale joint venture power station between China and North Korea. There are also other large and medium-sized comprehensive water conservancy projects, such as the Yunfeng, Huanren, Huilongshan, and Taipingchao stations, which primarily generate electricity while also providing flood control, irrigation, and shipping functions.

Flood Characteristics

The Yalu River floods mainly occur from mid-July to mid-August, with the maximum flood peak flow reaching 17,200 cubic meters per second. Due to historically severe flood peaks and water disasters, several earthen dams and concrete river embankments were built along the riverbanks in Dandong City during the Republican era to prevent flooding. The embankments are five meters high, two meters wide, and two kilometers long, featuring fourteen sluice gates to reduce flood-related damage.