Tongtian River

Tongtian River

The Tongtian River is a national water conservancy scenic area.

Introduction: The Tongtian River is formed where the Tuotuo River and the Dangqu River converge 60 kilometers downstream from the Tuotuo River Bridge in the Nangjibalong area. The main source of the Yangtze River, the Tuotuo River, originates from the Geladandong Glacier. The Tongtian River is the name given to the Yangtze as it flows through Yushu Prefecture, stretching 800 kilometers through the broad valleys of the Tanggula and Kunlun mountain ranges. Traveling along the Qinghai–Tibet Highway, about 20 kilometers from Jiegu Town, you can see the monument of the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, next to which lies the majestic Tongtian River.

The area features rugged and spectacular scenery and has long been a vital route from Xining to Yushu and from Qinghai to Tibet. It is also one of the most treacherous stretches along the upper reaches of the Tongtian River. In ancient times, frequent exchanges between Han and Tibetan envoys, monks spreading Buddhist teachings, pilgrims worshipping deities, and travelers from all directions often traversed this historic path and braved the dangers of the Tongtian Ferry. The famous episode in Journey to the West where the scriptures were dried after being carried across the river took place here. Today, the Tongtian Ferry has been replaced by a seven-span reinforced concrete bridge. The traditional cowhide rafts, which drifted here for thousands of years, have now become a curiosity sought after by photographers.

Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai