A great river flows through the hearts and blood of the Chinese people; a great river stirs up the waves and grandeur of Chinese civilization.

The documentary "Song of the Yellow River", produced by China Media Group and filmed by the Film and Television Documentary Center of China Media Group, was broadcast on CCTV Documentary Channel (CCTV-9) at 20:00 on December 28. The film consists of 6 episodes, each 50 minutes long.

Poster of "Song of the Yellow River"

From the long history of "The Yellow River Flows from the West" to the lofty ambitions of "The Great River"; from the historical memory of "The Vast Mind" to the patriotism of "The Sands"; from the national spirit of "The Stormy Waves" to the civilizational concerns of "A Peaceful Sea and a Clear River", the film spans thousands of years of time and space, and depicts the endless vitality of the Yellow River civilization in a panoramic and concentrated manner.

Stills from "Song of the Yellow River"

With the ultimate beauty, rushing water and magnificent scenery, the author expresses his respect and praise for the mother river. He poetically interprets the beautiful moments of ordinary people who have worked hard along the Yellow River for thousands of years and have coexisted with the river. He skillfully sketches the natural, cultural, historical and spiritual map of the Yellow River, and uses the "Yellow River Story" of the new era to trace the roots and soul of Chinese civilization.

The documentary "Song of the Yellow River" interviewed more than 60 guests, including experts in various fields such as archaeology, water conservancy, history, geography, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and ordinary people living along the Yellow River. The filming locations involved Beijing, Shanghai, more than 30 cities in nine provinces and regions along the Yellow River, and nearly 40 counties. The faces connect the impressions of the Yellow River from generation to generation, allowing the stories of everyone who was born and shined because of the river to continue.

Stills from "Song of the Yellow River"

The Yellow River is a river of culture that warms the heart. Every bend and every stop of the Yellow River nourishes different folk customs and cultures. The documentary "Song of the Yellow River" brings a new perspective to understand the Yellow River through stories of convergence, integration and connection.

In dialogue with the sages, historical figures such as Sima Qian, Princess Wencheng, and Xuanzang have seen the same river as people today; literati such as Li Bai, Wang Zhihuan, and Wang Wei have the same waves in their hearts as people today chant; from the concern of "ministers who have left their country, their hearts are still with the river", to the river stewards who have been fearless of wind and rain for thousands of years, they all have the same dream.

In Guo Moruo's writings, he used the river to call for blood; in Li Dazhao's writings, he used the word "rolling forward" to imply the spirit of self-improvement and unremitting struggle. This river of humanity has lit up the "heart lamp" of the Chinese people.

Stills from "Song of the Yellow River"

Today, the ancient river civilization is rejuvenating, and the national historical and cultural cities along or through the Yellow River are shining. The 2,700-kilometer Grand Canal is based on the Yellow River. It connects the past and the present, and it keeps going day and night. From the trickle at the source to the magnificent estuary, from the quaint villages to the prosperous cities, from the long river of history to the pulse of the modern times, new thinking on the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin is emerging. The film accurately captures the natural scenery and cultural landscape along the Yellow River, showing the splendor of the Yellow River today.

Stills from "Song of the Yellow River"

Stills from "Song of the Yellow River"

The documentary "Song of the Yellow River" reshapes the eternal memory of the Yellow River in people's hearts, digs deep into the word "spirit", and lets the story of the great river come rushing out.