Mother River Protection Day: Rivers of life

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For millennia, the Yangtze River and the Yellow River have been considered the Mother Rivers of China.

As cradles of the Chinese civilization, both rivers have played significant roles in China's history.

In 2008, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) declared March 9 as Mother River Protection Day, aiming to protect the environment along major rivers in China.

The Yangtze River, China. /VCG Photo

A bend of the Yangtze River, China. /VCG Photo

The Three Gorges Nature Reserve, China. /VCG Photo

The Yangtze River, China. /VCG Photo

The Yangtze River Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve, Shanghai, China. /VCG Photo

The Yangtze River is the longest river in both China and Asia with a total length of 6,380 kilometers.

With its headwaters in west China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the river basin covers one-fifth of China's land area.

Nearly one-third of China's population live along the riverbanks, making it one of the country's major arteries for culture and economy.

The first bend of the Yellow River, China. /VCG Photo

The Yellow River, China. /VCG Photo

The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, Shandong, China. /VCG Photo

Qiankun Bay of the Yellow River, China. /VCG Photo

Rainbow above Hukou Waterfall, China. /VCG Photo

Also originating in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yellow River is the second longest in China, 5,464 kilometers.

It carries large amount of sediment called loess from the Loess Plateau, creating a yellow tint on the lower reaches, hence its name.

It also presents broad curves and waterfalls, including Hukou Waterfall, the largest yellow waterfall in the world.

(Cover image: The Yangtze River, China. /VCG Photo)

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