In this article, the topic of Tongtian River will be addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective, exploring its implications in different areas of daily life. The impact that Tongtian River has had on society will be analyzed, as well as the possible implications it could have in the future. Through an exhaustive review of the specialized literature, we will seek to provide a comprehensive and updated vision of this topic, in order to encourage reflection and debate around it. Different approaches and expert opinions will be presented, as well as concrete examples that illustrate the relevance and scope of Tongtian River today. This article aims to provide a complete and enriching overview of Tongtian River, giving readers the tools necessary to fully understand it.
The Zhi Qu (Tibetan) or Tongtian River (Chinese: 通天河; pinyin: Tōngtiān Hé) is a 1,012 km (629 mi) long river in Qinghai Province, northwest China. It begins at the confluence of Tuotuo River and Dangqu River, before flowing southeast and meeting the Jinsha River near the border of Qinghai and Sichuan. It is within the Yangtze River drainage basin.
The Chinese name comes from a fabled river in the Journey to the West. In antiquity, it was called the Yak River. In Mongolian, this section is known as the Murui-ussu (lit. "Winding Stream") and is sometimes confused with the nearby Baishui.
The three principal headwaters—the Chumaer, Muluwusu, and Akedamu rivers—join to form the Tongtian River, which flows southeast to Zhimenda near the frontier between Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, where it becomes the Jinsha River (Jinsha Jiang). The Jinsha River is a primary tributary of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang).
The Tongtian River is one of the five large rivers flowing from headwaters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Its length is 1,012 kilometres, draining an area of 138,000 square kilometres. Pilgrims go to the river because it is mythical, but also it is known for its "sutra bridge" and "Gyiana Mani stones".[clarification needed]
The Tongtian is planned for heavy development, primarily for hydroelectric power. As of March 2014 a total of 10 dams are planned for the river. Those dams are listed below from downstream to upstream.