* Length: 5,464 km (3,415 miles)
* Location: China
* Source: Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province
* Mouth: Bohai Sea in Shandong Province
* Important Cities: Lanzhou, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Kaifeng
* Economic Importance: The Yellow River Basin is one of the most densely populated regions in China and is home to some of the country's most important agricultural areas. The river is also used for transportation, hydroelectricity, and irrigation.
* Environmental Issues: The Yellow River is heavily polluted and is also plagued by soil erosion and flooding.
Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)
* Length: 6,300 km (3,930 miles)
* Location: China
* Source: Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province
* Mouth: East China Sea near Shanghai
* Important Cities: Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai
* Economic Importance: The Yangtze River Basin is one of the most economically important regions in China. The river is used for transportation, hydroelectricity, irrigation, and fishing. The basin is also home to some of China's most important industrial centers.
* Environmental Issues: The Yangtze River is also heavily polluted, and is also affected by soil erosion and flooding.
Comparison
The Yellow River and the Yangtze River are the two longest rivers in China and play a vital role in the country's economy and culture. However, there are some key differences between the two rivers.
* The Yellow River is known for its yellow color, which is caused by the sediment it carries from the loess plateau in northern China. The Yangtze River, on the other hand, is known for its blue color, which is caused by the reflection of the sky.
* The Yellow River is also known for its frequent flooding, which has caused widespread damage and loss of life over the centuries. The Yangtze River, on the other hand, is less prone to flooding.
* The Yellow River is heavily silted, and its course has changed several times over the centuries. The Yangtze River, on the other hand, is less silted and its course has remained relatively stable.
* The Yellow River is less navigable than the Yangtze River, due to its shallow depth and frequent changes in course. The Yangtze River, on the other hand, is navigable for much of its length and is an important transportation route for China.