View source for Xi River

{{Short description|Western tributary of the Pearl River}}
{{Other uses|Xijiang (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Xi Jiang
| image             = 西江夜景 - panoramio.jpg
| image_caption     = Looking across the Xi River from [[Heshan, Guangdong|Heshan]] to [[Jiujiang, Guangdong|Jiujiang]], [[Foshan City]].
| image_size        = 
| map               = Zhujiangrivermap.png
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           =
| map_caption       = The [[Pearl River]] system including the Xi River
| source1_location  = [[Gui River|Gui Jiang]] and [[Xun River|Xun Jiang]] in [[Wuzhou]]
| mouth_location    = The [[Pearl River Delta]] on the [[South China Sea]]
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[China]] and [[Vietnam]]
| progression       = [[South China Sea]]
| length            ={{cvt|2,197|km|mi|abbr=on}} to {{cvt|2,271.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} ([[Pearl River|Xi]]–[[Xun River|Xun]]–[[Qian River|Qian]]–[[Hongshui River|Hongshui]]–[[Nanpan River|Nanpan]])
| source1_elevation = 
| mouth_elevation   = {{cvt|0|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_location=[[Pearl Delta]]
| discharge1_min={{cvt|3,600|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow in the Pearl River Basin: Controls of land surface processes and atmospheric impacts"/>
| discharge1_avg=(Period: 2010–2020){{cvt|9,631|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow in the Pearl River Basin: Controls of land surface processes and atmospheric impacts"/>
| discharge1_max={{cvt|34,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow in the Pearl River Basin: Controls of land surface processes and atmospheric impacts">{{cite journal|journal=Hydrological Processes|doi=10.1002/hyp.15151|title=Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow in the Pearl River Basin: Controls of land surface processes and atmospheric impacts|last1=Ying|first1=Zhang|last2=Jianping|first2=Gan|last3=Qichun|first3=Yang|volume=38|issue=4|year=2024|doi-access=free}}</ref>
| discharge2_location=[[Wuzhou]]
| discharge2_avg    = {{cvt|7,410|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828125601/http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/geomorphology/GEO_5/GEO_PLATE_D-6.shtml NASA.gov]</ref>
| basin_size        ={{cvt|437,000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Spatiotemporal variability of streamflow in the Pearl River Basin: Controls of land surface processes and atmospheric impacts"/> 
| river_system      = [[Pearl River]]
| tributaries_left  = He Jiang, [[Gui River|Gui Jiang]], [[Hongshui River|Hongshui Ho]], [[Qian River|Qian Jiang]]
| tributaries_right =[[Yu River (Guangxi)|Yu Jiang]], [[Xun River|Xun Jiang]]
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| c = 西江
| p = Xī Jiāng
| l = Western River
| j = Sai<sup>1</sup> gong<sup>1</sup>
| psp = West River
| showflag = jyp
| order = st
| w = Hsi<sup>1</sup> Chiang<sup>1</sup>
}}
[[File:The location of Xi River in China.jpg|thumb|The location of Xi River in China]]
[[File:KITLV - 110103 - Marble Hill at Shiuhing, China - circa 1871.tif|thumb|Marble Hill (Cockscomb Rock) on the West River, around 1871|alt=]]
[[File:View from Pagoda, Zhaoqing - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Xi River in [[Zhaoqing]].]]
The '''Xi River''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|iː}};<ref>[http://www.dictionary.com/browse/xi "Xi"]. ''[[Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary]]''.</ref> {{lang-zh|c= 西江}}) or '''Si-Kiang'''<ref>Other transliterations of the river's name include '''Hsi River''' and '''Hsi Chiang'''.</ref> is the western [[tributary]] of the [[Pearl River]] in [[South China|southern China]]. It is formed by the confluence of the [[Gui River|Gui]] and [[Xun River|Xun]] Rivers in [[Wuzhou]], [[Guangxi]]. It originates from the eastern foot of the Maxiong Mountain in [[Qujing]] City, [[Yunnan|Yunnan Province]]. Then it flows east through [[Guangdong]], and enters the [[Pearl River Delta]] just east of the [[Lingyang Gorge]] in [[Zhaoqing]]. The main branch of the Xi River flows southeast through the delta entering the [[South China Sea]] at [[Modao Men]], just west of [[Macau]].  The major cities along the Xi include Wuzhou, Zhaoqing, and [[Jiangmen]].

The other two main tributaries of Pearl River are the [[Dong River (China)|Dong River]] (literally, the East River) and [[Bei River]] (the Northern River). As for other functions, it plays a vital role in carbon storage and transport in Southern China.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Zou|first=Junyu|year=2017|title=Geochemical characteristics and organic carbon sources within the upper reaches of the Xi River, southwest China during high flow|url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/126/01/0006|journal=Journal of Earth System Science|volume=126|issue=1|pages=126(1), 1–10|article-number=6 |doi=10.1007/s12040-016-0792-9|bibcode=2017JESS..126....6Z|s2cid=132266505|doi-access=free}}</ref> The Xi River is facing some ecological challenges such as [[drought]],<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Keyi|last2=Niu|first2=Jun|last3=Li|first3=Tiejian|last4=Zhou|first4=Yang|date=2020|title=Facing Water Stress in a Changing Climate: A Case Study of Drought Risk Analysis Under Future Climate Projections in the Xi River Basin, China|journal=Frontiers in Earth Science|language=English|volume=8|page=86|doi=10.3389/feart.2020.00086|bibcode=2020FrEaS...8...86W|issn=2296-6463|doi-access=free}}</ref> [[invasive species]],<ref name=":22">{{Cite journal|last1=Gu|first1=Dangen|last2=Yu|first2=Fandong|last3=Hu|first3=Yinchang|last4=Wang|first4=Jianwei|last5=Xu|first5=Meng|last6=Mu|first6=Xidong|last7=Yang|first7=Yexin|last8=Wei|first8=Hui|last9=Shen|first9=Zhixin|date=2020|title=Non-native fishes in eight rivers of South China: species composition, distribution patterns, and potential influencing factors|doi=10.22541/au.158325439.94846492|doi-access=free}}</ref> and [[pollution]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Lian|first1=Meihua|last2=Wang|first2=Jun|last3=Sun|first3=Lina|last4=Xu|first4=Zhe|last5=Tang|first5=Jiaxi|last6=Yan|first6=Jun|last7=Zeng|first7=Xiangfeng|date=2019|title=Profiles and potential health risks of heavy metals in soil and crops from the watershed of Xi River in Northeast China|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0147651318311801|journal=Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety|language=en|volume=169|pages=442–448|doi=10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.11.046|pmid=30471581|issn=0147-6513|url-access=subscription}}</ref>{{TOC limit|2}}

== Xi River system ==
The basin of the Xi River ranges from eastern [[Yunnan|Yunnan Province]] to southern [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] with a humid subtropical or tropical monsoon climate.<ref name=":02"/> The Xi River is navigable for its entire length. It is a commercial waterway of southern China, and links the [[River delta|delta]] cities to the interior. Over two thousand years ago, the [[Lingqu|Lingqu Canal]] was dug, connecting the Xi River basin (the [[Li River (Guangxi)|Li River]], which is a tributary of the [[Gui River]]) with the [[Xiang River]], which flows into the [[Yangtze]], thus providing a continuous waterway from the [[Pearl River Delta]] to the [[Yangtze Valley]]. The Xi River is rich in water conservancy and water resources, providing significant contributions to agricultural [[irrigation]], river transportation, and [[Hydroelectricity|power generation]] in coastal areas.<ref name=":02"/>

The Xi River is the largest of the Pearl's tributaries. Its volume of flow is second in China only to that of the [[Yangtze River]], and it supplies water to many places in Guangxi, Guangdong and Macau. The greater Xi River is also one of China's longest. Existing in many segments it extends for {{convert|2271.8|km|abbr=on}}:
*Nanpan River: {{convert|950|km|abbr=on}}
*Hongshui River: {{convert|669.6|km|abbr=on}}
*Qian River: {{convert|121.0|km|abbr=on}}
*Xun River: {{convert|172.2|km|mi|abbr=on}}
*Xi River (including main branch to the sea): {{convert|359.0|km|abbr=on}}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=5 | Xijiang river system (''italics'' referring to rivers flowing outside of [[Guangxi]])
|-
| || || [[Fuchuan River|Fuchuan]] (富川江) || [[He Jiang|He]] (贺江) || rowspan=8 | ''Xi'' (西江)
|-
| || || [[Li River (Guangxi)|Li]] (漓江) || [[Gui River|Gui]] (桂江)
|-
| ''[[Beipan River]]'' (北盘江) || rowspan=2 | [[Hongshui River|Hongshui]] (红水河) || rowspan=4 | [[Qianjiang River|Qian]] (黔江) || rowspan=6 | [[Xun River|Xun]] (浔江)
|-
| ''[[Nanpan River]]'' (南盘江)
|-
| [[Rong River (Guangxi)|Rong]] (融江) || rowspan=2 | [[Liu River|Liu]] (柳江)
|-
| [[Long River (Guangxi)|Long]] (龙江)
|-
| [[Youjiang River|You]] (右江) || rowspan=2 | [[Yongjiang|Yong]] (邕江) || rowspan=2 | [[Yu River (China)|Yu]] (郁江)
|-
| [[Zuojiang River|Zuo]] (左江)
|}

== Major cities along the river ==
* [[Wuzhou]]
* [[Zhaoqing]]
* [[Foshan]] ([[Gaoming District]])
* [[Heshan, Guangdong|Heshan]]
* [[Jiangmen]]
* [[Zhongshan]]
* [[Zhuhai]]

== River Ecology ==
Rivers are a significant storage and transport system for both organic and inorganic carbon.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Baker|first1=Andy|last2=Cumberland|first2=Sue|last3=Hudson|first3=Naomi|date=2008|title=Dissolved and total organic and inorganic carbon in some British rivers|url=https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2007.00780.x|journal=Area|language=en|volume=40|issue=1|pages=117–127|doi=10.1111/j.1475-4762.2007.00780.x|issn=1475-4762|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The Xi River is an important source of atmospheric [[carbon dioxide]] in Southern China, with carbon inputs coming mainly from the river's headwater [[Nanpan River|Nanpan]] and [[Beipan River|Beipan]] rivers. In the Beipan River, carbon inputs come from the oxidation of organic carbon and the coal industry along the river. In the Nanpan River, carbon inputs come mainly from soil and organic detritus.<ref name=":1" />

== Environmental Issues ==

=== Drought ===
The Xi River basin has historically experienced droughts, which are worsening due to [[climate change]] and rapid [[urbanization]] along with many parts of the river. This increase in population is straining water resources. The climate of the watershed is [[Subtropics|subtropical]] to [[Tropical monsoon climate|tropical monsoon]], with 80% of [[precipitation]] falling between April and September.<ref name=":02"/> This extreme variation in yearly precipitation patterns exacerbates drought issues. Climate change is predicted to cause a significant decrease in average, highest, and lowest river flows, with average flow droppings anywhere from 4 to 49%.<ref name=":02" /> Increasing frequency and severity lead the meteorological and hydrological droughts.

=== Invasive species ===
Invasive or [[Introduced species|non-native species]] are an issue in rivers in southern China, including the Xi River.<ref name=":22"/> Southern China rears the majority of non-native species in [[aquaculture]].<ref name=":22" /> These species are mainly introduced from aquaculture, and may [[Predation|predate]] or [[Competition (biology)|outcompete]] [[native species]].<ref name=":22" /> Most introduced species are [[omnivore]]s, including the [[Nile tilapia]], the most common non-native species in southern China rivers.<ref name=":22" />

=== Pollution ===
Many commercial fish species in the Xi River and the encompassing Pearl River watershed have been contaminated with significant amounts of [[Bisphenol A]], common in plastics manufacturing.<ref name=":42">{{Cite journal|last1=Wei|first1=Xi|last2=Huang|first2=Yeqing|last3=Wong|first3=Ming H.|last4=Giesy|first4=John P.|last5=Wong|first5=Chris K. C.|date=2011|title=Assessment of risk to humans of bisphenol A in marine and freshwater fish from Pearl River Delta, China|journal=Chemosphere|volume=85|issue=1|pages=122–128|doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.05.038|issn=1879-1298|pmid=21700311|bibcode=2011Chmsp..85..122W}}</ref> Bisphenol A is a chemical that can be harmful to the [[endocrine system]] of fish and humans.<ref name=":42" />

== Protection ==
In order to protect the Xi River, the [[Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]] government issued a notice prohibiting new construction projects and migration of people within the land occupied and [[Inundation|inundated]] areas of the Xi River mainstream control project in Guangxi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=西江干流治理工程：禁止新增建设项目及迁入人口 - 广西壮族自治区人民政府门户网站 - www.gxzf.gov.cn|url=http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20160723-545731.shtml|access-date=2021-04-18|website=www.gxzf.gov.cn|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418231246/http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20160723-545731.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Besides, the protection measures include: promulgated a [[Fishing|fishing ban]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=西江禁渔七年水清鱼肥 - 广西壮族自治区人民政府门户网站 - www.gxzf.gov.cn|url=http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20170711-624238.shtml|access-date=2021-04-18|website=www.gxzf.gov.cn|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418231244/http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20170711-624238.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[wetland]] park protection, develop green [[recycling]] and low-carbon economic, the innovation of ecological and [[environmental protection]] cooperation mechanism and Xi River Basin Nature Reserve construction management.<ref>{{Cite web|title=聚焦西江流域生态环保 2016年广西环保世纪行启动 - 广西壮族自治区人民政府门户网站 - www.gxzf.gov.cn|url=http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20160614-545734.shtml|access-date=2021-04-18|website=www.gxzf.gov.cn|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418231244/http://www.gxzf.gov.cn/mlgx/gxjj/xjjjd/20160614-545734.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Xi River}}
*[http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/xijiang_rivers_streams.cfm WWF - Xi Jiang Rivers and Streams Ecoregion]

{{Major cities along the Pearl River}}
{{Guangdong topics}}
{{Yunnan topics}}
{{China Rivers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|22.0602|N|113.4792|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_type:river_region:CN-44|display=title}}

[[Category:Tributaries of the Pearl River (China)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Guangdong]]
[[Category:Rivers of Guangxi]]