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The Lancang River is the longest river flowing from north to south in China. It takes its source from the Zhaqu of the Guangguori Peak of Tanggula Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, China. It is called the Lancang River after it reaches Changdu. The river runs south until it leaves China at the Nanla Bayout of Yunnan Province and therefrom changes its name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The river finally empties into the Pacific Ocean in the south of Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. As the longest river in the Southeast Asia, the river has a total length of 2,354 kilometers and a drainage basin area of 165,000 square kilometers. The Lancang River is China’s main artery of water carriage connecting Southeast Asian countries, and it is reputed as the “Danube of the East”. The Lancang River has important value for travel industry, as the soil of the Lancang River valley is fertile, the resources are rich, the products are plentiful, the riverside scenery is beautiful, the ethical cultures and customs are special and the scenic spots and historical sites are numerous.

The Lancang River is a fantastic river with more than ten ethic minorities living along the river. In China, it is the only river where so many nationalities are living. Boating down with the current, tourists can view not only the rust-red water of the river, the white clouds and green mountains of the riverside, but also the ethical cultures and customs along the river.

(Source: chinaculture.org)