The main stream of Yarlung Zangbo River can be divided into source, upstream, middle and downstream according to natural conditions, valley shape and flow change. From the end of Gemayengzong Glacier to Lizi, it is the upstream section, with a river length of 268km, a catchment area of 26570km2 and a valley width of1~10km. The Ma Quan River runs between the southern Himalayas and the northern Gangdise Mountains, with a wide valley, generally 10 ~ 30 km. Continuous snow-capped mountains, ribbons and lakes are spread on the endless grassland like green tapestries. This beautiful picture is a portrayal of the upper reaches of the Ma Quan River. The Ma Quan River basin is basically a pastoral area, while the two sides of the valley below Payang are swamp meadows composed of Artemisia ordosica, which is the best pasture in winter and spring. In the upper part of Ma Quan Valley, the vast grassland is still a paradise for animals because of its sparse population. There are Tibetan antelope, rock sheep, wild donkeys, bison, bears, wolves, foxes, mice, rabbits and many other animals.
Name source
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Yarlung Zangbo River, called Yangcha Zangbo in ancient Tibetan, means water flowing down from the highest peak. There are three branches of its origin: the northern branch originated in the Gangdise mountains and is called Mayong Zangbo; The middle tributary is called Chemarongdong, which is considered as the main source of the Yarlung Zangbo River because of its large annual water volume. The southern branch originated in the Himalayas and is called Kubi Zangbo, which has a large amount of water every summer. After the confluence of the three tributaries, the reach to Lizi is collectively called Maquan River, but in Zhadong area, it is also called Dabu Brazao Buhe and kurama Hehe. Or Mazang Zangbu, which means Mother River in Tibetan. Lhasa area is called Tibetan cloth of sheep. To the west of Lhasa, the Yarlung Zangbo River is collectively called Dazhuokabu, which means the water flowing out of Haoma's mouth in Tibetan. The Tibetan language around Qushui is called Yalu River, and the area where the river flows to Shannan is called Yalong River (named after a Yalong River song in Shannan). So this river is called Yalong River. However, in Qushui area, it is pronounced as Yarlung Zangbo River, because the accurate pronunciation of "Lu" in Tibetan is "Dragon", which means the river flowing through the valley plain above Qushui, so the whole river is called Yarlung Zangbo River.