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Jialing River

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The Jialing River is a major tributary of the Yangtze River. It flows through the Sichuan Basin in China. This river is a significant part of the regional water system. It is known for its sinuous, or winding, course. In the past, people noted its pellucid green waters. This means the water was very clear and bright. Today, the river remains a vital geographic feature.

Jialing River in Chongqing
Jialing River in Chongqing

The river's path is complex and covers several provinces. One source of the name Jialing is the Jialin area. This name refers to the tomb of Jia. Jia was the last king of the State of Zhao. After the State of Qin defeated Zhao, Jia was moved to Tianshui in Gansu Province. The river briefly flows through Gansu. It then reenters Shaanxi before crossing south into Sichuan. The longest stem of the river begins in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. This source is at the head of the Baozuo River. The Baozuo is a tributary of the Bailong River. The Bailong and the Jialing branches meet in Guangyuan. From there, the water continues as the Jialing into the Yangtze.

The Jialing River has many different parts and branches. The Bailong River forms a portion of the main stem. Other large tributaries include the Xihan, Fu, and Qu rivers. The Xihan River meets the Jialing in Shaanxi province. The Fu River is also known as the Sui He. Both the Fu and the Qu rivers join the Jialing in Hechuan, Chongqing. The Fu joins the right bank, while the Qu joins the left bank. These connections help move large amounts of water through the basin. The river reaches the floor of the Sichuan Basin at Langzhong. It then follows a winding path toward Chongqing.

Jialing River in Chongqing
Jialing River in Chongqing

History shows that the river has held many different names. The name Jialing did not become common until the Tang Dynasty. Before this time, it was often called the Ba. It also appeared in records as the Lang or the Yu. In the 19th century, local Sichuanese people called it the Small River. They used this name to compare it to the Jinsha and Yangtze rivers. The river was the heartland of the ancient state of Ba. Major cities of that state sat at the confluences of tributaries. These are the places where two rivers meet.

Legends and art also connect to the Jialing River. One story involves the Tang-era artist Wu Daozi. During the Kaiyuan Era, Emperor Xuanzong commissioned a painting of the river. Wu Daozi traveled to Sichuan to study its course. Legend says he returned to the palace and finished the work in one day. He supposedly did this entirely from memory. Some stories say his speed was challenged by Li Sixun. Li followed the tradition of using many prepared sketches. Whether true or not, the story shows the river's importance to art.

Many cities and animals are linked to the Jialing. Cities along the course include Tianshui, Baoji, and Longnan. Other major cities are Guangyuan, Langzhong, Nanchong, and Chongqing. Many other towns sit within the river's basin. These include Mianyang, Suining, Bazhong, Wanyuan, Dazhou, and Guang'an. The river is also home to a diverse amount of wildlife. A total of 151 species of fish inhabit the river. Of these, 51 species are endemic to the Yangtze River basin. Endemic means they are found only in that specific area.

Carassius auratus
Carassius auratus

Human industry has always relied on the river's movement. Around 1880, shipping guilds were very active in Chongqing. Four out of the 24 guilds focused on the Jialing. Shipyards developed in Chongqing, Lingshi, Lezhi, and Hechuan. By the 1920s, five of Chongqing's eight ferry guilds used the river. After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, the river changed. Workers dredged the bottom to remove sediment. They also straightened parts of the winding path. These efforts made the river navigable throughout the year by the early 1970s.

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File:Jialing River in Chongqing.jpg
Jialing River in Chongqing.jpg
File:Carassius auratus.JPG
Carassius auratus.JPG
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