The Yarlung Tsangpo River is China's longest plateau river and one of the world's highest-altitude major rivers, often referred to as the "Mother River of the Plateau." It originates from the Jiemayangzong Glacier on the northern slopes of the Himalayas, its name in Tibetan meaning "snowmelt flowing from the high mountains." This great river flows eastward from its source, sometimes wide and gentle, sometimes roaring and turbulent, nourishing the land and life of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
The Yarlung Tsangpo River offers diverse landscapes along its course, showcasing the majestic grandeur of the Earth's "Third Pole" from its source glacier to its downstream canyons. South of Nyingchi, the river cuts through the Himalayas, forming the world-famous Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. This canyon stretches 504.6 kilometers from Daduoka Village in Milin City in the north to Baxika Village in Motuo County in the south, with an average depth of 2268 meters and a maximum depth of 6009 meters, making it undeniably the deepest and longest canyon in the world. The core area of the canyon forms a massive U-shaped bend around Namcha Barwa Peak, characterized by towering mountains, deep valleys, and swift-flowing water. The downstream section of the canyon has a significant drop in elevation and rapid currents, making it one of the world's richest and most concentrated areas of hydropower resources. The canyon region also boasts some of the world's most abundant rare biological resources. Currently, the nation has begun construction of the Yarlung Tsangpo Hydropower Station, a super-large hydropower station, here.