The three rivers in the east are the Jinsha (Golden Sand), Nu and Lancang. Apart from the great Yaluzangbo, these are the major rivers of the Tibetan Plateau. Most of them flow into the neighboring territories of India and Myanmar, passing through the mighty Himalayas. The three rivers in the east are known for their rapid rate of flow, and present a great opportunity for white water rafting. Also, canoeing on the lower reaches of the three rivers has also become popular in the recent times, with the opening of Tibet to foreign tourists.
The Lancang River flows into Myanmar and neighboring South East Asian countries as the Mekong. The Nu is also known as Salween in Myanmar. The three rivers of the east flow parallel to each other, from the Quinghai Plateau towards India and South East Asia. The scenery along the river route is breathtaking. As you gaze upon the majestic Hengduan Mountains running almost parallel to the three rivers, or look upon the golden furze growing high upon the hillsides, you feel a sense of awe and wonder. The Lancang and Jinsha are separated only by about 60 kilometers at one point, and the shortest distance between Lancang and Nu is around 20 kilometers. The Lancang, Nu and Jinsha are located in the heart of the Yunnan Protected Area, which encloses a very fragile ecosystem. The Meli Snow Mountain on the banks is held sacred by the Tibetans, most of who are ardent conservationists. The gorges of each of these rivers are deep, with the Nu River Gorge as deep as 2000 meters. It is known as "The Grand Oriental Gorge". The Three River system is also home to some rare wildlife like antelopes, royal Bengal tigers and snow leopards.
