Editor's Note: Bridging News launched a social media campaign to promote collaboration among Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Hubei provinces during this year’s Two Sessions. The campaign showcases each region’s achievements and measures in enhancing the shipping infrastructure of the Yangtze Upper Reaches, using the hashtag #YangtzeUpperReachesPower.

The Han River in Shaanxi Province, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River, serves as a vital lifeline linking the water transportation routes of the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin, playing a crucial role in connecting the north and south as well as the east and west of China.

With a rich history in navigation, the Han River has been hailed as the "Golden Waterway" and the "Han River Corridor," serving as a pivotal channel that connects the economic belts along the Yangtze River.

Historically, the Han River route spanned from Hanzhong upstream to Hankou downstream, standing out as the busiest and most convenient inland waterway. Presently, 15 hydroelectric power stations line the Han River, showcasing ongoing enhancements to navigation facilities. 

In recent years, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces have collaborated for the high-quality development of Han River navigation, leveraging water transportation cost advantages. They aim to turn the Han River into an extension of the "Silk Road" upstream and establish connections for "river-sea transportation" downstream, opening access to seaports. 

This initiative supports developing a hub system and fostering interconnected industrial and supply chain construction along the Han River. 

The Han River in Shaanxi Province, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River, serves as a vital lifeline linking the water transportation routes of the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin. (Photo/ ShaanxiPlus)