The Zi Jiang is one of the four largest river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

s in Hunan

Hunan

' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...

 province of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

, also one of the main tributaries

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Yangtze River

Yangtze River

The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...

. It is 653 km long and covers 28,2142 km² (26,728 km² in Hunan).

The Zijiang has two sources, the South and the West. Originating from the norh side of Yuechengling Mountains in Ziyuan County

Ziyuan County

Ziyuan County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city.-References:*...

 of Guangxi

Guangxi

Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...

, the South source, Daxishui River flows through Xinning

Xinning County

Xinning County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Shaoyang city.-References:*...

, Shaoyang

Shaoyang

-Administrative divisions:*Shuangqing District *Daxiang District *Beita District *Wugang City *Shaodong County *Shaoyang County *Xinshao County *Longhui County *Dongkou County *Suining County...

. Origination from the Huangmajie in Chengbu county

Chengbu Miao Autonomous County

Chengbu Miao Autonomous County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Shaoyang city.-References:*...

, the West source, Heshui River flows through Wugang and Longhui

Longhui County

Longhui County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Shaoyang city.-References:*...

.

The two rivers flow until they join the main river named Zijiang River at Shuangjiangkou in Shaoyang county

Shaoyang County

Shaoyang County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Shaoyang city.-References:*...

. Then the Zijiang runs through Shaoyang, Xinshao

Xinshao County

Xinshao County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Shaoyang city.-References:*...

, Lengshuijiang

Lengshuijiang

Lengshuijiang is a county-level city in Hunan province of the People's Republic of China.Lengshuijiang Normal School is an institution of higher education in Lengshuijiang, which has no university....

, Xinhua

Xinhua County

Xinhua is a county, Located in middle reaches of the Zi River in the central Hunan of China. It covers 3,635 square kilometers and has a population of 1,291,626 . Xinhua shares the border with Lengshuijiang, Lianyuan, Xinshao, Xupu and Longhui counties and cities...

, Anhua

Anhua County

Anhua County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Yiyang city.-References:*...

 and Taojiang

Taojiang County

Taojiang County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Yiyang city.-References:*...

, empties into the Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake, or Lake Dongting is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan province, China. It is a flood basin of the Yangtze River . Hence the lake's size depends on the season...

 at Ganxikou in Yiyang

Yiyang

Yiyang is a prefecture-level city at the Zi River in Hunan province, China. According to the 2010 Census, Yiyang has a population of 4,313,084 inhabitants residing in an area of 12,144 km². It can be said that the population of the city hasn't changed since the last census in 2000, when the data...

.

The four largest rivers in Hunan are: the Xiang River

Xiang River

The Xiang River , in older transliterations as the Siang River or Hsiang River, is a river in southern China...

, the Yuan Jiang

Yuan Jiang

Yuan Jiang ; was a Chinese landscape painter during the Qing Dynasty . His specific years of birth and death are not known. He served at the imperial palace during the Yong Zheng era ....

, the Zijiang River and the Lishui River

Lishui River

Lishui River is a river in Hunan province of China, one of the Yangtze River's four largest tributaries in the province....

.