On the side of the Chishui River

Author: Zhao Lijuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The Chishui River, formerly known as Anle River, is a right-bank tributary of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It gathers hundreds of streams and brooks along its course, spanning over 480 kilometers. The Chishui River originates from Doujia Mountain in Zhenxiong County, Yunnan Province, where the upper reaches are called Yudong. As the water flows to Tiziyan, the junction of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces, the water volume increases, and it is then known as Bishe River. After entering Guizhou, it becomes the Chishui River, and within Renhuai, it is also referred to as Maotai River. The Chishui River converges into the Yangtze River at Chengguan, Hefang City, Sichuan Province.
The upper reaches of the Chishui River are above Liangzong Town, while Fuxingchang serves as the dividing point between the middle and lower reaches. Major tributaries include the Erdao River, Tongzi River, and Xishui River. The river basin covers an area of 20,440 square kilometers, with an average gradient of 1.2‰ and an average discharge of 309 cubic meters per second at the mouth. The sediment content is as high as 0.93 kilograms per cubic meter, and the river is named "Chishui" because of its red soil, which is rich in iron oxide.
The upper reaches, at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,600 meters, belong to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, where karst formations are well-developed, and the river valleys are deeply incised with an average gradient of 2.2‰, featuring rapid currents and numerous shoals. The narrow and treacherous gorges in the middle reaches are best exemplified by the 10-kilometer-long Wu Gongyan Ten-Mile Shoal, which has a drop of 200 meters. This area is an ideal destination for rock climbing and whitewater rafting adventures. The middle reaches flow along the edge of the Sichuan Basin, where the river valleys gradually widen, and terraces appear on both banks, with underground rivers merging into the main stream. The lower reaches traverse the red regions of the Sichuan Basin, with an altitude of 200 to 500 meters, where the river surface is broad and the average gradient is only 0.4‰.
The flood season of the Chishui River aligns with the rainy season, with May to October accounting for 65% to 70% of the annual flow volume. From November to the following April, it is the dry season. The middle and upper reaches of the Chishui River are rich in hydropower resources, with a total installed capacity of 1.27 million kilowatts. The lower reaches, with their wide and deep waters and stable currents, offer convenient navigation, making them a historic salt trade route between Sichuan and Guizhou. Today, they can accommodate 120-ton motor vessels.
The river valleys of the Chishui River also boast picturesque landscapes. The river is crystal clear in winter, but during the nearly eight-month flood season, the water turns murky and reddish. This is why it is called "Chishui" (Red Water)—the red hue comes from the red soil carried by the currents, which is derived from the (Danxia landforms).
The entire Chishui River basin is densely forested, with numerous forest parks such as Xishui and Yanziyan. The forests here are important production areas for nandu bamboo and pine and fir trees.
Chishui is one of China's "Top Ten Bamboo Countries," with abundant bamboo resources, including 12 genera and over 40 species. Among them, nandu bamboo is the most abundant, covering 27,000 hectares, while miscellaneous bamboos cover 130,000 hectares. For dozens of square kilometers around, bamboo groves stretch endlessly, creating a spectacular sight. After visiting a bamboo forest park, you might find yourself becoming a "bamboo expert," able to identify the species and age of bamboo at a glance.
There are also mysterious "living fossils" in the form of Cyathea forests. Cyathea is a tree fern that thrived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of the Mesozoic Era, coexisting with large reptiles like dinosaurs. It is considered a symbol of the "Age of Reptiles." In addition to the famous national-level Cyathea Nature Reserve, many areas in Chishui are covered with Cyathea forests. The Cyathea in Renyou Creek Scenic Area were even transplanted to the Guizhou Pavilion at the Kunming World Expo. As a result, Chishui has become one of the rarest natural concentrations of Cyathea in China and the world, earning it the titles of "Cyathea Kingdom" and "Cyathea Sanctuary."