[3] Owing to earlier romanization systems, the river has been known as the Chin-sha Chiang and Kinsha Kiang (when it was not simply described as the Yangtze) in English sources for the last three centuries.

The name "Jinsha" originates in the Song dynasty when the river attracted large numbers of gold prospectors.

[6] The Jinsha culture in prehistoric China derives its name from a road near its type site and not from the river directly.

[9][10] After completion of the Baihetan Dam in 2022, five of the largest hydroelectric power stations in the world with sizes of at least 3,000 MW, are on the river.

[11] When all the hydropower stations are in operation on the Jinsha River, they constitute the world’s largest clean energy corridor.

[13] [14] [15] The pre-imperial "Tribute of Yu" recorded the traditional view of the Yangtze River as originating with the Min or Yalong instead of the Jinsha and this remained unchallenged for millennia, even after Li Daoyuan's Commentary on the Water Classic recorded much of the Jinsha's extensive river system during the Northern Wei.

The Ming-era geographer Xu Xiake was the first to correct this, although it remained a common misconception in China as late as the early 20th century.