{{Short description|River in Shaanxi, China}} {{Infobox river | name = Yan River | native_name = {{native name|zh|延河}} | country = China | region = Shaanxi | region_type = Province | mouth = Yellow River | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|36.3980|110.4791|format=dms|type:river_region:CN|display=inline,title}} | length = {{cvt|286.9|km}} | basin_size = {{cvt|7725|km2}} }}
thumb | right | alt=Photograph of the Yan River flowing in front of a group of high rise apartment buildings, taken November 2025. | Yan River, 2025 The '''Yan River''' ({{Lang-zh|c=延河|s=|p=Yán Hé}}) is a river in Shaanxi, China. The river flows from its source, the Xingzi River ({{Lang-zh|c=杏子河|p=Xìngzi Hé|l=apricot river}}) in Jingbian County, in the prefecture-level city Yulin,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2015-04-13|title=|script-title=zh:靖边县概况地图|trans-title=Jingbian County Overview|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27750.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814103915/http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27750.html|archive-date=2020-08-14|access-date=2021-09-19|website=xzqh.org|language=zh}}</ref> and then flows through neighboring Yan'an,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-15|title=|script-title=zh:延安市概况地图|trans-title=Yan'an Overview|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/20381.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514174119/http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/20381.html|archive-date=2021-05-14|access-date=2021-09-19|website=xzqh.org|language=zh}}</ref> finally flowing into the larger Yellow River in Yanchang County, Yan'an.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2015-06-30|title=|script-title=zh:延长县概况地图|trans-title=Yanchang County Overview|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27696.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119122701/http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27696.html|archive-date=2020-01-19|access-date=2021-09-19|website=xzqh.org|language=zh}}</ref> The Yan River flows a total length of {{Convert|286.9|km|mi}}, and has a total basin area of {{Convert|7725|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=1994-12-01|title=|script-title=zh:延安市志（地理志，第四章 水资源，第一节 地表水）|trans-title=Yan'an City Records, Geography Record, Chapter Four Water Resources, Segment One Water Surface|url=http://dfz.shaanxi.gov.cn/sqzlk/xbsxz/sxdyl/yas_16203/yasz/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920015813/http://dfz.shaanxi.gov.cn/sqzlk/xbsxz/sxdyl/yas_16203/yasz/|archive-date=2021-09-20|access-date=2021-09-19|website=dfz.shaanxi.gov.cn|publisher=Shaanxi Provincial Local History Office|language=zh}}</ref>
== Geography == The Yan River's source is Zhou Mountain ({{Lang-zh|c=周山}}), in the town of {{Interlanguage link|Tianciwan|zh|天赐湾镇}} Jingbian County, Yulin.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The river then flows to the south into Yan'an, entering by passing through Ansai District.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-15|title=|script-title=zh:安塞区概况地图|trans-title=Ansai District Overview|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27702.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607053509/http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27702.html|archive-date=2021-06-07|access-date=2021-09-19|website=xzqh.org|language=zh}}</ref>
The Yan River continues its flow south to Baota District,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-06-30|title=|script-title=zh:宝塔区概况地图|trans-title=Baota District Overview|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27694.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108020311/http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/sn/27694.html|archive-date=2021-01-08|access-date=2021-09-19|website=xzqh.org|language=zh}}</ref> the urban center of Yan'an. In Baota District, the river passes through {{Interlanguage link|Hezhuangping|zh|河庄坪镇}}, Qiaogou Subdistrict, {{Interlanguage link|Chuankou, Yan'an|lt=Chuankou|zh|川口镇 (延安市)}}, Liqu, {{Interlanguage link|Yaodian, Shaanxi|lt=Yaodian|zh|姚店镇}}, and finally, {{Interlanguage link|Ganguyi|zh|甘谷驿镇}}.<ref name=":2" /> The portion of the river which flows through Baota District totals {{Convert|62|km|mi}}, and has a basin area of {{Convert|2203.68|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=":2" />
From Baota District, the river flows east through Yanchang County, where it merges into the larger Yellow River.<ref name=":1" />
== Characteristics == The Yan River is highly seasonal, due to the large disparities in the region's wet season and dry season.<ref name=":2" /> There is little year-round water flow contributing to the river.<ref name=":2" />
The Yan River's basin follows a gradient of higher elevations in the northwest, and lower elevations in the southeast, resulting in the river's flow in that direction.<ref name=":2" /> Due to the geology of the Loess Plateau, the Yan River often follows a highly curvy path, and has a high sand content.<ref name=":2" /> Landslides are common in the Yan River's basin.<ref name=":2" /> 34% of the basin is covered in forest.<ref name=":2" />
The normal flow of the Yan River is about {{Convert|4|m3|ft3}} per second, and the annual average runoff is {{Convert|220,000,000|m3|yd3}}.<ref name=":2" /> The average sediment transport volume is 16 million tons.<ref name=":2" />
== History == Throughout China's long history, the Yan River has been called a number of different names. During the Warring States period, the river was known as the Qushui ({{Lang-zh|c=区水|p=Qūshuǐ}}).<ref name=":2" /> Later, during the Western Han, the river was called the Weishui ({{Lang-zh|c=洧水|p=Wěishuǐ}}).<ref name=":2" /> Afterwards, in the Northern and Southern dynasties, and during the Western Wei, the river was known as the Qingshui ({{Lang-zh|c=清水|p=Qīngshuǐ}}).<ref name=":2" /> During various points after the Western Wei, the river was called a number of other names, including the Jinshui ({{Lang-zh|c=筋水|p=Jīnshuǐ}}) and the Zhuojinshui ({{Lang-zh|c=濯筋水|p=Zhuójīnshuǐ}}).<ref name=":2" /> The current name, the Yan River ({{Lang-zh|c=延河|s=|p=Yán Hé}}), is only a more recent name for the river.<ref name=":2" />
== Tributaries == The total length of the Yan River's tributaries total {{Convert|10|km|mi}}, and 11 of them have a basin area of over {{Convert|100|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=":2" />
Tributaries along the Yan River's left bank include the Fengfu River ({{Lang-zh|c=丰富川|p=Fēngfù Chuān}}), the Panlong River ({{Lang-zh|c=蟠龙川|p=Pánlóng Chuān}}), and the Wuyang River ({{Lang-zh|c=五阳川|p=Wǔyáng Chuān}}).<ref name=":2" /> Tributaries along the river's right bank include the Xi River ({{Lang-zh|c=西川|p=Xī Chuān}}), the Nan River ({{Lang-zh|c=南川|p=Nán Chuān}}), and the Masi River ({{Lang-zh|c=马四川|p=Mǎsì Chuān}}).<ref name=":2" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Rivers of Shaanxi Category:Geography of Yan'an Category:Yulin, Shaanxi