The Zhanghe River was originally the largest tributary in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The Hengzhang and precipitation referred to in "Yu Gong" are the Zhang River. Later, the Yellow River moved south, and the Zhang River broke away from the Yellow River and joined the Haihe River system, becoming a major tributary of the Haihe River. Historically, its changes are relatively complicated. Its changes can reach as far south as Anyang River and as far north as Fuyang River and its predecessor, Hengshui. Changlu or Hulu River can migrate along the same path. Its peak point of change is at Ye Town after Chushan ( To the west of the ancient Ye capital) is Santaikou. In ancient times, there were two branches in the lower reaches of the Zhanghe River. Since Cao Cao dug the Licao Canal, the southern branch appeared to support the canal, and the Zhanghe River was divided into three branches. Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Zhangshui River has gradually become unstable. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, in addition to the southern branch of the canal, water from the Zhang River was also diverted to the lower reaches of the canal in order to support water transportation. There were as many as three branches and as few as one branch. In this way, the changes in the Zhang River became more frequent and complicated. After the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, all the Zhanghe River was returned to the canal from Guantao, which formed the appearance of the Zhanghe River today.

The Zhang River above the Yuecheng Reservoir runs through the lofty mountains of the Taihang Mountains. The average longitudinal slope of the river is 1/260. Next, "the sound of the Zhangshui flood can be heard for several miles" ("Jifu Anlan Zhi"). Torrents carry a large amount of sediment. According to statistical analysis of data from 1923 to 1965, the average annual sediment transport volume at Zhanghe Guantai Station is 25.8 million tons. "Although the turbidity of Zhangshui is less than that of yellow, it is easy to be silted up." Therefore, Zhanghe is known as the "Little Yellow River". In the Haihe River Basin, the sediment load of the Zhanghe River ranks second after the Yongding River.

The ancient Zhanghe River changed many times due to the influence of the Yellow River. In history, the Yellow River changed its course twice from Tianjin to the sea. The first time was from the 5th year of King Ding of Zhou (602 BC) to the 3rd year of the founding of Xinmang (11 AD); the second time was from the 8th year of Qingli in Song Dynasty (1048 AD) to the 5th year of Mingchang of Jin Zhangzong (1194 AD). Year). The two times lasted for 759 years. The Yellow River has the characteristics of high flood peak, large sand content, good siltation and migration, etc. When it encounters a river, it must be captured. Not only is it difficult to cross the Wei River and Zhang River, but also the Hutuo River, which originally flows into the sea alone, has to change its direction and move along the edge of the Yellow River. The Northeast Current flows from Tianjin into the sea. The Yellow River is the main reason for the formation of the Haihe River system.

In the Jin Dynasty, after the Yellow River took over the Huaihe River and entered the sea, it left an old Yellow River course that was higher than the ground in the North China Plain. In addition, the Zhanghe River had a high sand content, which silted up the deposits into a flat land, causing the river to swell and release water. Due to the obstruction, the Zhang River often overflows and causes disasters, which cannot be controlled. During the 242 years from the 9th year of Shunzhi (1652 AD) to the 20th year of Guangxu (1894 AD) in the Qing Dynasty, the Zhanghe River flooded 40 times, averaging about once every 6 years. People call it "the unruly Zhanghe River." According to the "Linzhang County Chronicle": "In July of the 43rd year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1564 AD), (Zhanghe River) stained the west gate of Zhou City; in the 6th year of Tianqi (1626 AD) year), the water reached the bottom of the city and was more than ten feet deep; in the third year of Chongzhen (AD 1630), the south embankment was broken in the summer, and it became common in the next few years. "According to the "Yancheng (Daming) County Chronicle" records: "The 36th year of Jiajing (AD 1557). The Zhangwei River flows across the river and floods Daming, Nanle, Wei, Qing, Neihuang and other counties. People have built nests to live there. "

There are roughly three diversion paths of the Zhanghe River in history. The first is the confluence of the northern source of the Zhang River and the Fuyang River, known historically as the North Road, which runs from Linzhang, through Guangping, to Qiu County, to the northwest of Wei County, and across Xinhe County. The second is that the Zhanghe River flows southward and merges with the Weihe River, which is called the South Road in history. Therefore, the road generally runs from Linzhang and Wei County, passes through Daming, ends at the Guantao line, and enters Wei above Guantao County. The third is the middle road between the North Road and the South Road, which generally flows northeast from Linzhang, passes through Feixiang, and Guangping, to joins the Hutuo River in Hexian County, and then flows north to Tianjin and the sea. From a time point of view, the Southern Road has been used for the longest time. During the 575 years from 1368 to 1942 AD, the Southern Road was used for 347 years.

The south road entering the Weihe River has also undergone several changes. In the 13th year of Zhengtong in the Ming Dynasty, he entered the Wei in Feixiang. In the early years of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, he entered the Wei in Yanjiadu, Daming County. In the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, he entered the Wei in Huilong Town. Soon after, he entered the Wei in Shicun, Neihuang County.

In the 47th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, all of Zhangzhou entered the Wei Dynasty and took the southern route. After that, although the Zhanghe River changed erratically, it always stayed on the southern route. In 1942, the Zhang River entered the Wei River at Xu Wanchang, Guantao County, Hebei Province and has formed the current situation of the confluence of the Zhang and Wei Rivers.