The White Jade River, also known by the native names Baiyu or Yurungkash, is a river in the southern Xinjiang region of China.
The head waters of the river rise in the Kunlun Mountains, 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 Khotan (37°07′N 79°58′E / 37.11°N 79.97°E / 37.11; 79.97). North of Khotan, it eventually dries up in the Taklamakan desert, its seasonal bed joined by that of the 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 Khotan River passing Piqanlik (40°03′N 80°53′E / 40.05°N 80.89°E / 40.05; 80.89), and seasonally crossing the desert, joining the Tarim River at 42°29′N 80°56′E / 42.483°N 80.933°E / 42.483; 80.933. 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.
Famous quotes containing the words white, jade and/or river:
“Then came Corinna in a long loose gown,
Her white neck hid with tresses hanging down,
Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed,”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“Do not pray for gold and jade and precious things; pray that your children and grandchildren may all be good.”
—Chinese proverb.
“The name of the town isn’t important. It’s the one that’s just twenty-eight minutes from the big city. Twenty-three if you catch the morning express. It’s on a river and it’s got houses and stores and churches. And a main street. Nothing fancy like Broadway or Market, just plain Broadway. Drug, dry good, shoes. Those horrible little chain stores that breed like rabbits.”
—Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)