The Yangtze River is the longest river in China. It provides over 400 million people with water. However, the river is very polluted due to tons of chemical, industrial, and human waste. The Yangtze river begins in the Tibetan Plateau and flows over 4,000 miles through over 180 towns and flows in the East China Sea. It provides China's people with hydroelectric power, water used for irrigation, and transportation.