Understanding riverine carbon dynamics is critical for not only better estimates of various carbon fluxes but also evaluating their significance in the global carbon budget. In this study, we examined the dynamics of riverine CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) in the Yangtze River basin. Its pCO₂ was characterized by strong spatial and temporal variations. With a basin-wide mean pCO₂ of 2662(±1240) μatm, substantial CO₂ evasion is expected. Future efforts are needed to evaluate its significance.