The Yangtze and Yellow River basins, the largest river basins in China, sustain the most densely populated region of China by providing water and energy resources. Being located in East Asia Monsoon area, the characteristics of the water budgets and water cycle over these two basins might be affected by different circulation systems in the low, middle, and high latitudes. Since limited efforts have been done on the water budgets and cycle over the two big closed river basins at a continental scale, especial...