then flows into Yunnan province. After a large, 200 mile (320 km) long loop to the north of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, the Jinsha swings northeast, forming the Sichuan-Yunnan provincial boundary until it joins the Min River at Yibin in Sichuan to form the Yangtze. Gradients The upper course of the river falls about 14 feet per mile (2.7 m/km). Below Batang in Sichuan, the gradient gradually decreases to about 8 feet per mile (1.5 m/km) but the Jinsha is not navigable. Its upper course through the gorges, particularly, is more of an obstacle than an aid to transportation. Dams The Jinsha is being heavily developed, primarily for hydroelectric power. By March 2014, a total of 25 dams were completed, under construction or planned for the river. Those dams are listed below from downstream to upstream. After completion of the Baihetan Dam in 2022, five of the largest hydroelectric power stations in the world with sizes of at least 3,000 MW, are on the river. When all the hydropower stations are in operation on the Jinsha River, they constitute the world’s largest clean energy corridor. Xiangjiaba Dam – completed, 7,750 MW Xiluodu Dam – completed, 13,860 MW Baihetan Dam – completed, 16,000 MW Wudongde Dam – completed, 10,200 MW Yinjiang Dam – planned Jinsha Dam – planned, 520 MW Guanyinyan Dam – completed, 3,000 MW Ludila Dam – completed, 2,160 MW Longkaikou Dam – completed, 1,800 MW Jinanqiao Dam – completed, 2,400 MW Ahai Dam – completed, 2,000 MW Liyuan Dam – completed, 2,400 MW Liangjiaren Dam – planned, 4,000 MW Longpan Dam – planned, 6,000 MW Bengzilan Dam – planned, 2,100 MW Rimian Dam – programmed, 3,720 MW Changbo Dam – programmed, 1,060 MW Suwalong Dam – programmed, 1,160 MW Batang Dam – programmed, 740 MW Lawa Dam – programmed, 1,680 MW Yebatan Dam – programmed, 2,080 MW Boluo Dam – planned, 960 MW Yanbi Dam – planned, 300 MW Gangtuo Dam – planned, 1,100 MW Guotong Dam – planned, 140 MW History Imperial China The pre-imperial "Tribute of Yu" recorded the traditional view of the Yangtze River as originating with the Min or Yalong instead of the Jinsha and this remained unchallenged for millennia, even after Li Daoyuan's Commentary on the Water Classic recorded much of the Jinsha's extensive river system during the Northern Wei. The Ming-era geographer Xu Xiake was the first to correct this, although it