YANGTZE PLAIN

Wade-Giles romanization Ch'ang Chiang P'ing-yan, Pinyin Chang Jiang Pingyuan, series of alluvial plains of uneven width along the Yangtze River and its major tributaries, beginning east of I-ch'ang (Hupeh province), China. The Middle Yangtze Plain comprises parts of northeastern Hunan, southeastern Hupeh, and north-central Kiangsi provinces, including Tung-t'ing, P'o-yang, and Hung lakes. The Lower Yangtze Plain includes the Yangtze River delta and T'ai Lake and the area along the Yangtze in south-central Anhwei province. There are a few isolated hills, but mostly the plains are level and lie below 150 feet (45 m) above sea level. The slopes of the valleys bordering the plains have been converted into a system of flat terraces. The rivers, canals, and lakes form a network of navigable waterways. Flood diversion projects built after 1949 have helped control flooding. Rice, cotton, wheat, rapeseed, mulberries, bamboo, hemp, and fish are raised; the major cities are Shanghai, Nanking, Hang-chou, and Wu-han.