Source of the Yangtze River, photographed by Ancil Nance, 1986 Ken Warren Sino-USA Upper Yangtze River Expedition

Nearing the source, still a few miles away, stop for lunch

Source mountains and glacier

Official marker of source of the Yangtze, on a ridge between two glacier snouts. We went to the one out of sight on the right, as being further away.

source of the Yangtze, glacier outpouring

source of the Yangtze, still too far back to see the pool

looking back down stream from the source at yak teams arriving with gear. Small stream on right exits glacial pool.

inflating kayaks at source pool

Where the river begins

begins

Ron Mattson gets a first spin around the source pool

Team photo

About 5 miles down from the source, taking a break. Stream still small.

Looking back from a small peak at about the 100 mile mark. Braided stream narrows to a good flow at this point.