The Yellow River seems to have less impact than the Yangtze River, but it is actually more fundamental to the Huaxia civilization; conversely, the Yangtze River has somewhat less influence.

The entire North China Plain, including the Guanzhong Plain, is an alluvial plain formed by the Yellow River, and the unique geography of the North China Plain/Guanzhong Plain allows for a quick formation of a unified state in the north, while the south (south of the Yangtze River) had higher development costs in ancient times, benefiting from the migration of northern people southward, which accelerated the development (Hangzhou, Hakka, Zhuge Liang's seven captures of Meng Huo).