Journey along China’s Yangtze River – From the Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai

The mighty Yangtze River is China’s longest and most important waterway, stretching a grand 6,300 kilometers from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea. For thousands of years, it has carved valleys, nourished fertile plains, and supported some of the earliest Chinese civilizations. Along its journey, the river flows past spectacular mountain landscapes, is fed by hundreds of tributaries, and meets major cities like Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Shanghai. In this travel documentary, I take you back to some of my most memorable journeys, traveling along several beautiful parts of the third longest river in the world. From the rugged scenery and ancient traditions on the Tibetan Plateau to the bustling streets and steep slopes of mountainous Chongqing city. From the dramatic First Bend of the Yangtze to the historic villages of Lijiang and Zhujiajiao. From the blue turquoise waters and thick forests of Jiuzhaigou national park to the jaw-dropping skyline of Shanghai. From the impressive yet controversial Three Gorges Dam to the massive Leshan Giant Buddha. And from the intriguing cities of Wuhan and Nanjing to the picturesque lakes and tea gardens of Hangzhou. For other travel documentaries click here: Journey through Tunisia:    • Journey Through Tunisia - Africa Travel Do...   Journey through Ethiopia:    • Journey Through Ethiopia - Africa Travel D...   Journey through Saudi Arabia:    • Journey Through Saudi Arabia - Travel Docu...   Journey through Israel:    • Journey Through Israel - Travel Documentary   Journey through Palestine:    • Journey Through Palestine - Travel Documen...   Napoli and Beyond:    • Napoli and Beyond - Italy Travel Documentary   Journey through Sicily:    • Journey Through Sicily - Italy Travel Docu...   Journey through Iran:    • Journey Through Iran - Travel Documentary   Journey through Central Asia:    • Journey Through Japan - Travel Documentary   Top 10 Places in India:    • Top 10 Places to Visit in India - Travel V...   Instagram:   / stefhoffer   Facebook:   / stefhoffer   Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video: We begin our journey on the Tibetan Plateau, a sparsely populated land of towering mountains, glaciers, and frozen lakes. It’s in this high-altitude world that the Yangtze finds its origin as the Tongtian River. Although we are unable to visit the source of the Yangtze, we do get a sense of these mythical lands by exploring Lhasa, the spiritual heartland Tibet, where we join pilgrims and monks visiting the Potala Palace and monasteries. We have our first visual meeting with the Yangtze at the First Bend in Yunnan province. Here, the river becomes known as the Jinsha River, and makes an almost 180 degree turn. We discover this region and travel to historic Lijang village, the temples and pagodas of Dali, and Yulong Mountain, before we reach the jaw-dropping Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most breathtaking canyons along the Yangtze. We travel onwards as the Yangtze winds through forested valleys and the stunning turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou National Park, of of China’s most visited tourist sights. In Sichuan, it passes Chengdu with its famous panda reserve, and meets the Min River at Leshan’s cliffside Giant Buddha. Further downstream on the Yangtze, we reach Chongqing, one of the China’s largest cities. Built on steep hills, the municipality offers a glimpse into the country’s rapid urbanization process. Our next destination is Fengjie, from where we visit the Three Gorges, where steep cliffs rise on either side of the Yangtze. Tourists often board cruise ships here, ending their trip in Yichang. Not far from here, we look at the Three Gorges Dam. While it generates power, aids shipping, and controls floods, it has also displaced communities, altered ecosystems, and submerged cultural sites. We reach the city of Wuhan, with its bustling shopping streets, charming old neighborhoods, and incredible bridges spanning the Yangtze. Further East, we traverse Nanjing, a pleasant city of forested parks and lakes. From Nanjing, the follow the river until it links with the Grand Canal, connecting north and south China. Hangzhou’s highlights are the West Lake and Longjing tea gardens, while historic water town Zhujiajiao offers canals, stone bridges, and traditional local culture. Nearing the Yangtze’s mouth, we reach Shanghai, a dynamic city with an amazing skyline, historic architecture, and ever-changing neighborhoods. Here, we visit the famous Bund, stroll through beautiful parks and crowded shopping streets.. At last, after visiting Shanghai’s deepwater port, we arrive at the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge, the last major structure before the mighty Yangtze pours into the East China Sea. Timestamps / video chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:03 Tibetan Plateau 5:44 Yunnan (First Bend, Lijiang, Dali, Yulong) 9:06 Tiger Leaping Gorge 9:58 Sichuan (Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Leshan) 12:35 Chongqing 15:08 Three Gorges 16:07 Three Gorges Dam 17:24 Wuhan 21:38 Nanjing 23:46 Grand Canal (Hangzhou) 25:59 Zhujiajiao 27:15 Shanghai 30:50 East China Sea 31:49 End