After flowing through the narrow Three Gorges, the Yangzi (Chang Jiang) widens in its flat middle reaches, nourished by smaller rivers from Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi. This area supports rice and tea farming and has historically facilitated trade, noted by Marco Polo in the 13th century. However, rural regions, especially in Anhui and Jiangxi, remain underdeveloped. The Three Gorges Dam is helping to boost local industry and address these disparities.
The Yangzi Basin