Myths and legends tinged with yellow

The Yellow River is so named because of loess, an incredibly fine, yellowish type of silt that accumulates in its waters along its 5,646km-long journey through nine of China’s provinces. It is the sixth-longest river on Earth and the second-longest in China, as well as being the cradle of the country’s civilisation, which began to flourish on its banks some 6,000 years ago with the first agricultural settlements. It has always given rise to countless myths, legends and folk tales: according to an ancient legend, for example, there is a large waterfall along its course known as the Dragon Gate which separates heaven from earth and where carp are transformed into dragons. Significantly closer to the modern day, meanwhile, there is also a film filled with gambling dens, ambushes, arrests, gangsters, action and much more besides: ‘Ash is Purest White’ by Jia Zhangke, one of the foremost Chinese filmmakers alive today.

We will leave you with the trailer, but would recommend watching the entire film.