river in Hebei province and Beijing and Tianjin municipalities, northern China. The Chaobai originates in metropolitan Beijing at the confluence of its two main tributaries, the Chao and Bai ("White") rivers, about 2 miles (3 km) south of the town of Miyun and 10 miles (16 km) south of the Miyun Reservoir (in Beijing municipality). The Chao is fed by source streams in the mountains of northern Hebei and flows southeast on its way to the reservoir. The Bai rises near the Great Wall (Great Wall of China) west of Dushikou (in Hebei) and flows generally southeast as it is joined by several tributaries, including the Hei ("Black") River, before it empties into the reservoir. The Chao and Bai issue separately from the reservoir, each passing through its own dam, and then join to form the Chaobai.

From Miyun, the Chaobai flows southwest, south, and then southeast as it crosses a portion of Hebei and enters Tianjin municipality. It is connected to the northern branch of the Grand Canal as it leaves Beijing and enters Hebei; it then continues southeast to Wucunzha, where it changes its name to become the New Chaobai River. This stretch of the river acquired its name in the 1960s when it was confined to a channel to prevent it from flooding the area, as it had in the past. The river finally meets the New Yongding River north of the city of Tianjin before it empties into the Bo Hai (Gulf of Chihli). The Chaobai has a length of some 170 miles (275 km), and the New Chaobai has a length of about 110 miles (180 km).