Yangtze River: China's Mighty Waterway

The Yangtze River (长江, Cháng Jiāng) is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world at 6,300 kilometers (3,917 miles). It flows from the glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau through central China to the East China Sea near Shanghai. The river is vital to Chinese civilization, supporting over 400 million people.

This fractal visualization traces the Yangtze's winding path through China. Watch as the river flows continuously eastward, with fractal water patterns creating realistic turbulence and eddies. The day/night cycle progresses rapidly, showing the river under dawn light, bright noon sun, golden sunset, and moonlit night.

The fractal nature emerges from the recursive branching of tributaries, the self-similar patterns of water turbulence at different scales, and the meandering curves that repeat throughout the river's course. Boats travel along the river, appearing as small lights at night. Adjust flow speed, time progression, wave detail, and boat traffic.