Hanjiang River in Chaozhou, Guangdong

The Hanjiang River (韩江), one of the most important rivers in southeastern China, is the second-largest river basin in Guangdong Province (广东省), after the Pearl River Basin (珠江流域). It was historically known as Yuan Shui (员水) and later called Exi (鳄溪). The upper reaches of the Hanjiang River are formed by the confluence of the Meijiang River (梅江) and the Tingjiang River (汀江). The Meijiang River is the primary tributary, originating from Shangfeng (上峰) in Zijing County (紫金县), Guangdong Province, and flows northeastward through Wuhua (五华), Xingning (兴宁), Meixian (梅县), Meizhou (梅州), and Dapu (大埔) counties. It converges with the Tingjiang River at Sanheba (三河坝). The Tingjiang River originates from Laijia Mountain (赖家山) in Ninghua County (宁化县), Fujian Province, and flows southward through Longting (长汀), Wuping (武平), Shanghang (上杭), and Yongding (永定) counties in Fujian before entering Guangdong Province and merging with the Meijiang River.

Once the two rivers meet, it is officially called the Hanjiang River (韩江), which flows southward through Fengshun (丰顺), Chao’an (潮安), and Chaozhou (潮州) counties, and into the Hanjiang Delta (韩江三角洲) near Shantou (汕头), where it empties into the South China Sea (南海). The river’s total length is 470 kilometers.

The Hanjiang River Basin (韩江流域) spans 30,112 square kilometers and involves three provinces: Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi. It plays a significant role in the region’s water transport and is a vital drinking water source for Guangdong Province.

River and Tributary Details

• Meijiang River (梅江): The primary source of the Hanjiang River, it flows from the Wutu Mountain (乌突山) in Zijing County (紫金县) and runs through several counties including Wuhua, Xingning, Meixian, and Meizhou. The river is 307 kilometers long and has a catchment area of 13,929 square kilometers.
• Tingjiang River (汀江): The Tingjiang River is a first-level tributary of the Hanjiang River, originating from Laijia Mountain (赖家山) in Fujian Province. It flows through counties such as Changting (长汀), Wuping (武平), Shanghang (上杭), and Yongding (永定) before merging with the Meijiang River. Its total length is 323 kilometers, and it has a catchment area of 11,802 square kilometers.

Geography and Climate 

The Hanjiang River Basin (韩江流域) is located in a subtropical monsoon climate zone, characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and frequent rainstorms. The average annual temperature is around 20.8°C, and the annual rainfall is approximately 1,600 millimeters, with the heaviest rains falling between April and September. The geography of the basin is primarily mountainous and hilly.

Water Resources and Infrastructure 

The Hanjiang River Basin has been developed with five cross-district water diversion projects and four large reservoirs. The river plays a crucial role in the region’s water transport system and is essential for the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Hanjiang River’s Role in Transportation and Economy 

The Hanjiang River is a key water transport route in Eastern Guangdong (粤东), carrying the primary load of regional waterway traffic. As a significant starting point for the Maritime Silk Road (海上丝绸之路), the river holds historical and cultural importance. It is also one of Guangdong’s key protected drinking water sources (重点保护饮用水源).

Tributary and Delta Information

Meijiang River 

The Meijiang River is the primary tributary of the Hanjiang River, originating in the mountains along the border of Lu Feng (陆丰) and Zijing County (紫金县). The river flows northeast to the city of Meizhou, with major towns along the river including Meixian, and Wuhua. Its catchment area is about 13,929 square kilometers.

Tingjiang River

The Tingjiang River, originating from Laijia Mountain (赖家山) in Fujian Province, is a major tributary of the Hanjiang River. It traverses through several counties before merging with the Meijiang River. It covers an area of 11,802 square kilometers and is an important waterway in Fujian and Guangdong.

Hanjiang Delta 

The Hanjiang Delta (韩江三角洲), located at the confluence of the Hanjiang River, stretches 54 kilometers from Zhu Gang Mountain (竹竿山) to the river mouth, with a catchment area of 1,035 square kilometers. The delta divides into three main branches: North Creek (北溪), East Creek (东溪), and West Creek (西溪), each flowing into the South China Sea.

Water Flow and Tributary Networks

The Hanjiang River’s primary tributaries are the Meijiang and Tingjiang rivers, which converge at Sanheba (三河坝). Below this point, the river continues to flow southward toward the delta, feeding several key streams such as Yinjiang River (银江河), Hekui Creek (合溪水), and Shatian Creek (沙田水).

The delta area includes complex river networks, with water flowing into the South China Sea. Some of the important distributaries include the Mei Creek (梅溪河), Xinjin Creek (新津河), Waisha Creek (外砂河), Lianyuan Creek (莲阳河), and Dongli Creek (东里河).

Environmental Protection and Management 

As a major waterway and an important source of drinking water, the Hanjiang River (韩江) has been under extensive environmental management. The region’s rivers are safeguarded through various protection measures, including the development of reservoirs, water diversion projects, and pollution control systems. Efforts are also focused on maintaining water quality and protecting the biodiversity of the river basin.

Overview of Major Rivers in the Hanjiang Basin

Basin Overview (流域概况)

• Basin Boundary (流域界限):
  
  The northern boundary of the Hanjiang River Basin is formed by the Wuyi Mountain (武夷山) and Shaling Anticline, which separates the Hanjiang River from the Ganjiang River. To the northeast, the basin is divided from the Minjiang River by the Jiu Longxi (九龙溪) watershed. The southern boundary is marked by Yinsha Mountain (阴那山) and Baxian Mountain (八乡山), which divide the Hanjiang River from the Rongjiang River. To the east, the basin is separated from the Huanggang River (黄岗河) by the Phoenix Mountain Range (凤凰山脉), and to the west, it is separated from the Dongjiang River (东江) by less distinct mountain ranges.

• Basin Area (流域范围):
  
  The Hanjiang River Basin is located in southeastern Guangdong and southwestern Fujian, with geographic coordinates between 115°13′–117°09′E and 23°17′–26°05′N. It is the second-largest river basin in Guangdong Province after the Pearl River Basin. The basin spans portions of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces, covering an area of 30,112 square kilometers. The Tingjiang River covers 11,802 square kilometers, the Meijiang River covers 13,929 square kilometers, and the Hanjiang main stream (from Sanheba to Chao’an) covers 3,346 square kilometers. The Hanjiang Delta (below Chao’an) covers 1,035 square kilometers.
  
  In terms of provincial distribution: Guangdong Province accounts for 17,851 square kilometers (59.3%), Fujian Province covers 12,080 square kilometers (40.1%), and Jiangxi Province covers 181 square kilometers (0.6%).

• Topography (流域地形):
  
  The basin features a multi-folded structure, with elevations ranging from 20 meters to 1,500 meters above sea level. The average slope of the Hanjiang main stream is 0.37‰. The region consists mostly of mountainous areas (70% of the total basin area), with hilly terrain covering 25%, and plains (5%) primarily found in the Hanjiang Delta.

Climate of the Hanjiang Basin

The Hanjiang River Basin lies in the subtropical monsoon region of Southeast Asia and has a humid subtropical climate characterized by high temperatures and heavy rainfall. The region is heavily influenced by the southeast monsoon from the ocean, with rainstorms mainly occurring in the summer months. From April to June, the region experiences frequent frontal rains, while from July to September, it is affected by typhoon rains, primarily from tropical storms in the Pacific and South China Sea, causing heavy rainfall and high flood levels.

The annual rainfall is abundant but unevenly distributed. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 1,700 millimeters, with the majority falling between April and September, accounting for over 70% of the total annual rainfall. The heaviest rainfall is usually concentrated in May and June. Due to the terrain, the rainfall increases from the coastal areas toward the north and gradually decreases after crossing the Lianhua Mountain Range (莲花山脉).

The region’s rainstorm center is located in Yangtou Village (洋头村), Longwo Town (龙窝镇), Zijing County (紫金县) in Heyuan City (河源市), with an annual rainfall of about 2,570 millimeters.

Reservoir Projects

The Hanjiang River (韩江) basin in Guangdong Province had a total population of 7.8 million in 2005, with 4.64 million being agricultural residents, accounting for 59.5% of the total population. The total cultivated area was 2.34 million acres. By January 2012, there were 10,041 reservoirs built in the region, with a total storage capacity of 1.568 billion cubic meters. These included 3 large, 17 medium, and 139 small (Type I), with 9,882 small (Type II) reservoirs.

Large and Medium Reservoirs

The Hanjiang River (韩江) basin has 4 large reservoirs, all located in Meizhou (梅州), with a total storage capacity of 690 million cubic meters. These reservoirs include Yitang Reservoir (益塘水库), Heshui Reservoir (合水水库), Changtan Reservoir (长潭水库), and Dongshan Reservoir (东山水库). Additionally, there are 19 medium-sized reservoirs in the basin, with 13 located in Meizhou (梅州).

Large Reservoirs

Medium-Sized Reservoirs

Hydrological Networks

The Hanjiang River basin contains 4 main hydraulic hubs:

• Dongshan Hydraulic Hub (东山水利枢纽) in Fengshun County (丰顺县), Meizhou (梅州)
• Gaopei Hydraulic Hub (高陂水利枢纽) in Dapu County (大埔县), Meizhou (梅州)
• Mianhuatan Hydraulic Hub (棉花滩水利枢纽) in Longyan City (龙岩市), Fujian Province (福建省)
• Chaozhou Water Supply Hub (潮州供水枢纽) in Chaozhou (潮州市), Guangdong Province (广东省)

Hydrological Hub Specifications

This detailed description of Hanjiang River (韩江) basin’s reservoirs and hydraulic networks provides insights into the water management projects in Guangdong Province (广东省) and surrounding regions.