Land and Water: The Yangtze River

Asia's most important river flows east across China. Learn about the world's third longest river by reading The Yangtze River. This book tells the story of the river, its source and outlet, history, people, and uses today.

Janice DeLong - Children's Literature

Whether readers think of the Yangtze as Chang Jiang, "the great river;" Jinsha Jiang, "the river of golden sand;" or simply as the third longest river in the world, this fact filled picture book reveals it is a fascinating body of water with significance to millions of people. Flowing at one point south, at another, north, and then, east, the great river crosses most of southern China and touches the lives of citizens in Nanjing, Shanghai, and even Beijing through the Grand Canal, as well as many small towns in between. The importance of river commerce can scarcely be overestimated, as this volume indicates. Reaching back into history, the relation between the body of water the formation of villages, and feudalism is explored. Lives of peasants who still survive much as farmers have for centuries is documented with large colorful photographs juxtaposed against views of modern cities populated by millions living in cities powered by hydroelectricity. Special features of this work include a glossary, recommended reading, internet sites, and directions on how to build a canal. This is the fourth volume in the "Fact Finders Land and Water" series. 2004, Capstone Press, Ages 8 to 12.