Yurungkash River White Jade River, Baiyu River
Collecting jade in the White Jade River near Khotan in 2011
Native name	يورۇڭقاش دەرياسى (Uyghur) 玉龙喀什河 (Chinese)
Physical characteristics
Source	Kunlun Mountains
• coordinates	35°31′38″N 81°29′42″E / 35.527297°N 81.495070°E / 35.527297; 81.495070
Mouth	Hotan River
• coordinates	38°04′53″N 80°33′45″E / 38.081296°N 80.562477°E / 38.081296; 80.562477
Basin size	14,575 km2 (5,627 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	72.3 cubic metres per second (2,550 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Hotan→ Tarim→ Taitema Lake

The White Jade River, also known by the native names Baiyu or Yurungkash, is a river in the southern Xinjiang region of China.^[1]

The head waters of the river rise in the Kunlun Mountains, in the area of Aksai Chin in Kashmir in the Togatax area (35°36′N 81°24′E / 35.6°N 81.4°E / 35.6; 81.4). The river flows east for some 200 km and then north for another 200 km before passing through Khotan, China (37°07′N 79°58′E / 37.11°N 79.97°E / 37.11; 79.97).^[1] In Khotan, the river has yielded white river rocks which are also known as nephrite jade.^{[1] [2]}

North of Khotan, it eventually dries up in the Taklamakan desert, its seasonal bed joined by that of the Black Jade River (Karakash River) near Koxlax (some 200 km north of Khotan, 38°05′N 80°34′E / 38.08°N 80.56°E / 38.08; 80.56), from where it continues north as the Hotan River, which flows into the Tarim River. The river drains an area of 14,575 km² (5,627 sq mi) and has a discharge of 72.3 cubic metres per second (2,550 cu ft/s).

The river gets its name from the white jade that is often found in its alluvial deposits. The jade can also however be found in semi-shallow areas of the river.^{[citation needed]}.

Roads[edit]

• China local highway S216 follows the river from Khotan to 36°30′N 79°54′E / 36.5°N 79.9°E / 36.5; 79.9.
• Keriyadavan Road from Akqik (some segments under construction) crosses Kunlun mountains and follows the river from 35°54′N 80°36′E / 35.9°N 80.6°E / 35.9; 80.6 to 35°48′N 80°54′E / 35.8°N 80.9°E / 35.8; 80.9.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Yurungkash River near Hotan (2017).
• 
  Map including White Jade River (labelled as Yurungkash R (Khotan)) (RGS, early 20th century)
• 
  Map including the northern section of the White Jade River (labeled as Yü-lung-ha-shih Ho) and surrounding region (USATC, 1971)^[a]
• 
  Map including the southern section of the White Jade River (labeled as Yurung Kash) and surrounding region (AMS, 1950)^[b]
• 
  Map including the White Jade River (labeled as Ywungkax He (Yü-lung-k'o-shih Ho)) and surrounding region) (DMA, 1980)^[c]

See also[edit]

• List of rivers of China

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Khotan River formed by confluence White Jade and Black Jade Rivers, China (with image)
• Moyu-Hetian Highway (G3012) project ... - also includes construction of Yurungkash River Grand Bridge near Hetian, Xinjiang, China.