White Jade River

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 area of Aksai Chin in Kashmir in the Togatax area (35.6°N, 81.4°W). The river flows east for some 200 km and then north for another 200 km before passing through Khotan, China (37.11°N, 79.97°W). In Khotan, the river has yielded white river rocks which are also known as nephrite jade.

North of Khotan, it eventually dries up in the Taklamakan desert, its seasonal bed joined by that of the Black Jade River (Karakash River) near Koxlax (some 200 km north of Khotan, 38.08°N, 80.56°W), from where it continues north as the Hotan River, which flows into the Tarim River. The river drains an area of 14575 km2 and has a discharge of 72.3 m3/s.

The river gets its name from the white jade that is often found in its alluvial deposits. The jade can also however be found in semi-shallow areas of the river..

Roads

 * China local highway S216 follows the river from Khotan to 36.5°N, 79.9°W.
 * Keriyadavan Road from Akqik (some segments under construction) crosses Kunlun mountains and follows the river from 35.9°N, 80.6°W to 35.8°N, 80.9°W.