Dulong River

　　　　The Dulong River Gorge is situated in the northwest corner of Yunnan Province, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and Myanmar to the east and south. It is renowned for being the homeland of the Derung people, known historically as the "ancient tribe," and also famed for its unique topography and remoteness, earning it the nickname "the mysterious gorge." The Dulong River, which stretches 250 kilometers across the entire region, originates from Zayü County in Tibet. To the east are the Gaoligong Mountains, towering over 5,000 meters, and to the west lie the Dandanglika Mountains, exceeding 4,000 meters and bordering Myanmar.

　　　　 The Dulong River is formed by the confluence of the upstream Keluolo River and Mabilo River, flowing into Gongshan County at Dubuli before turning westward at Maoding Shuang. It then passes through Makou into Myanmar, where it joins the N'Mai Kha River. Within China, the river stretches over 90 kilometers, covering a drainage area of 1,947 square kilometers. With significant elevation drops, the Dulong River has more than 100 tributaries. Influenced by the southwest monsoon from the Indian Ocean, it receives an annual rainfall of over 3,200 millimeters, the highest in Yunnan. The river valley boasts a rich diversity of plant life, including precious species such as fir, three-needled pine, dove tree, sulfur rhododendron, Tetracentron sinense, and tree ferns. Rare animals under national protection found here include the tiger, takin, red goral, golden snub-nosed monkey, and red panda.

　　　　 The Derung people, who have lived in the gorge for generations, remained in the late stages of a primitive society until the 1950s. For instance, their hunting crossbows were made from yellow mulberry wood, their rafting tubes from aromatic camphor and yellow mulberry wood, their clothing from wild hemp fibers, and even their colorful Derung blankets were woven from wild hemp. Their houses were constructed entirely from bamboo and thatch.

　　　　 After the 1950s, with strong support from the government, the Derung people reclaimed land and developed their homeland, leading to significant progress in various aspects of the Dulong River Valley. A 65-kilometer-long mule track was built from the county seat to the Dulong River bank, taking 2–3 days to travel from the Dulong River to the county seat. Within the Dulong River Valley, 79 kilometers of mule tracks were constructed, along with four steel cable suspension bridges, ending the reliance on rope crossings and vine bridges. A poverty alleviation highway connecting Gongshan to the Dulong River is currently under construction.