The Yangtze River, fourth largest in the world in terms of sediment discharge, contributes about 500 × 106 t annually to the East China Sea. A disproportionate part of the load is carried after peak summer discharge, presumably the result of draining the rice fields. During a week-long study of the estuary, greatest water discharge was observed in the North Passage. Suspended sediment concentrations were highest in the South Channel of the South Passage, although in contrast to the North Passage little of the suspended sediment was coarse. The high sediment concentrations in the South Channel appear to be the result of oscillatory (net transport upstream) movement of material, in contrast to the marked seaward transport measured in the North Passage.Key words: Yangtze River, sedimentation, discharge, transport, estuary