Final answer:
The river that originates in the mountains of western China is the Yellow River. It is known for its fertile loess soil and has historically supported extensive agriculture despite prone to flooding. This river, together with the Yangtze River, has significantly influenced Chinese civilization and agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The river that originates in the mountains of western China is the Yellow River, also known as the Huang He. This river is historically significant as it greatly influenced the development of Chinese civilization. The Yellow River's origins can be traced back to the Tibetan Plateau, flowing through various provinces before emptying into the Bohai Sea. It is notable for the light-colored silt that it carries, which has been a mixed blessing for agriculture in the region. While the soil (loess) is highly fertile and supports crops such as wheat and sorghum, it also makes the area prone to severe flooding. Nevertheless, ancient dynasties, such as the Shang and Zhou, utilized this river for irrigation, developing advanced hydraulic engineering methods to control its flow for farming needs.
Another major river is the Yangtze River, which also originates from the Tibetan Plateau and serves as a crucial water source and transportation corridor for central China. With extensive rice and wheat farming along its banks, the Yangtze River is home to major Chinese cities and possesses the world's largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam. This dam provides significant electricity production and enables cargo vessel navigation deep into the Chinese interior.