a river in China, left tributary of the Yangtze River. It rises in the Min Mountains. Length, 793 km; basin area, 134,000 sq km. The Min River flows through a deep, winding gorge, which frequently resembles a canyon. At the population center of Kuanhsien it enters the Szechwan Basin, where it divides into branches. Below the population center of P’engshan the Min again flows in a single channel. It empties into the Yangtze near the city of Ipin. There are summer freshets and low water in the winter. The mean annual flow rate is greater than 3,000 cu m per sec. The regions surrounding the city of Ch’engtu in the Min basin are among the oldest irrigated areas of China. The irrigation system consists of numerous (more than 200) canals, irrigating about 350,000 hectares. The Min is navigable by ocean-going vessels from the city of Leshan and by small boats from Ch’engtu.
a river in southeastern China. Length, 577 km; basin area, 60,800 sq km. It flows mainly through the spurs of the Wuyi Mountains and empties into Formosa Strait, forming an estuary. There are summer freshets, with considerable fluctuations in water levels and flow rates. The mean annual flow rate in the lower course is about 2,000 cu m per sec; the maximum flow rate is 30,000 cu m per sec. The Min River feeds a dense network of irrigation canals. It is navigable in its lower course. The city of Nanping and a hydroelectric power plant are on the Min. Near the river’s mouth is the large seaport of Fuchou.