Like a Flowing River

StarringCountry of originChinaOriginal languageChineseNo. of episodes47 (Part 1), 39 (Part 2)ProductionExecutive producerHou HongliangCamera setupMultiple-camera setupRunning time40-45 minutesProduction companiesOriginal releaseNetworkDragon TV, Beijing TVReleaseDecember 10, 2018 (2018-12-10) –
present

Like a Flowing River (Chinese: 大江大河; pinyin: Dà Jiāng Dà Hé) is a 2018 Chinese period drama based on Ah Nai's novel River of Time (大江东去 IPA:[tâ.tɕjáŋ.tʊ́ŋ.tɕʰŷ]). It is directed by Kong Sheng and Huang Wei, and stars Wang Kai, Yang Shuo and Dong Zijian as budding entrepreneurs who take advantage of the economic reforms being rolled out in 1970s China.^[1]

The drama is a celebration of 40 years of China's open door policy, and will be split into two parts.^[1] The first part will run for 45 episodes, and air on Dragon TV and Beijing TV beginning December 10, 2018.^[2] The second part began airing on Dragon TV and Zhejiang TV on December 20, 2020.^[3]

Cast

Main

• Wang Kai^[4] as Song Yunhui, a naturally gifted man who comes from a family oppressed by the government, since it didn't belong to the peasant class prior to the establishment of PRC. As such, it was difficult for him to rise in the existing system. He grabs hold of the opportunity of the resumption of traditional examination based on academics and eventually becomes a technical engineer.
• Yang Shuo^[5] as Lei Dongbao, who is resolute and efficient and comes from a military background. During China's Rural Reform, he leads his whole village in following the government initiatives. However, along the way, he realizes he is tied down by his limited knowledge and world view.
• Dong Zijian^[6] as Yang Xun, a self-employed man who scrambles for every little business opportunity, and undergoes several failures, before finally attaining his own business and property.

Supporting

• Tong Yao^[7] as Song Yunping, Song Yunhui's sister and Lei Dongbao's wife. A gentle, kind and courageous woman who provides endless support and warmth to her brother and husband. She dies later due to hemorrhaging complications during childbirth.
• Zhou Fang as Cheng Faiyan, Song Yunhui's first wife. She has a daughter with him.
• Yang Caiyu as Liang Sishen, Song Yunhui's pen-pal and close confidante. A beautiful, independent and confident lady. She studied in the USA from a young age and later becomes a business executive. Teenager portrayed by Zhao Yunzhuo.
• Yang Lixin as Clerk Shui
• Zhao Yang as Yu Shanqing
• Wang Hong as Lei Tugen
• Wang Yongquan as Old Clerk
• Tian Lei as Shi Hongwei
• Li Baoan as Song Jishan, Song Yunhui's father
• Qian Jie as Song Yunhui's mother

Production

Shooting

The "Jin Ling County (晋陵县)" in Like a Flowing River was filmed in Nanjing. As the Yeshan iron ore plant in Nanjing retains the 1970s to 1980s appearance, the building was used for a variety of scenes; scenes of bookstores, photo studios, guest house, government offices, etc. were all shot there.^[8] The drama also filmed in Nanjing Yuntai Shan Pyrite Co., Ltd., also in Nanjing, where the crew filmed the mine dormitory, canteen, town hall and children's school, where Song Yunhui taught. The Ministry of Chemical Industry was filmed at Nanjing Art Institute.^[8] In order to create a more authentic "Xiao Lei Jia Village (小雷家村)", the crew planted a large tree at the location a year in advance,^[9] and spent more than 20 days in the village to shoot.^[10]

It is reported that the money used to "restore the texture of the age" was double the amount used in other TV series, with ultra-wide format used for the first time.^[11] For the many snow scenes, the crew used naturally degradable paper foam instead of the cheaper magnesium sulfate or aluminum, citing that the old way produced pollution.^[9] Actor Wang Kai reportedly lost weight to achieve the look the impoverished main character, while Yang Shuo gained weight to become the well-off secretary of the village.^[12]

Principal photography began on February 23, 2018 in Jing County, Xuancheng, Anhui and ended on June 26.^[13][14]

Casting and release

At Tencent Video VVision Conference held on November 8, 2017, Like a Flowing River was announced, with confirmation of its television broadcast on Dragon TV as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of China's open door policy.^[15] Beijing TV also announced its broadcast shortly after. Daylight Entertainment announced Wang Kai as Song Yunhui and Yang Shuo as Lei Dongbao on the 13th and 14th respectively.^[4] On December 6, Dong Zijian was cast as Yang Xun.^[6]

Original soundtrack

Like a Flowing River Original Soundtrack (OST)
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	July 2, 2016
Genre	Mandopop Instrumental
Language	Mandarin
Label	Mai Tong Music
Producer	Dong Yingda

The main composer of the Like a Flowing River OST is Dong Yingda, who also worked on The Great River (2018) and Ming Dynasty (2019).^[16] On December 4, the show held a press conference in Shanghai, and announced that the promotion song of the same name would be sung by Wang Kai.^[17]

Reception

Ratings

• Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Broadcast date[18]	Beijing TV CSM52 ratings			Dragon TV CSM52 ratings
	Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rank	Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rank
2018.12.10	0.971	3.48	1	0.527	1.89	4
2018.12.11	1.035	3.71	1	0.513	1.84	4
2018.12.12	1.041	3.85	1	0.722	2.68	2
2018.12.13	1.159	4.25	1	0.791	2.9	2
2018.12.14	1.2	4.22	1	0.85	2.99	2
2018.12.15	1.104	3.92	1	0.735	2.61	2
2018.12.16	1.192	4.19	1	0.904	3.17	3
2018.12.17	1.246	4.6	1	0.919	3.56	2
2018.12.18	1. 276	4.69	1	0.781	2.84	3
2018.12.19	1.195	4.40	1	0.862	3.78	2
2018.12.20	1.214	4.39	1	0.838	3.03	2
2018.12.21	1.417	5.04	1	0.893	3.17	2
2018.12.22	1.248	4.35	1	0.931	3.25	2
2018.12.23	1.343	4.67	1	0.972	3.37	2
2018.12.24	1.374	5.01	1	0.902	3.29	2
2018.12.25	1.284	4.59	1	0.925	3.30	3
2018.12.26	1.326	4.72	1	0.989	3.52	3
2018.12.27	1.359	4.77	1	1.014	3.56	2
2018.12.28	1.346	4.7	1	0.967	3.38	2
2018.12.29	1.386	4.64	1	0.947	3.17	2
2018.12.30	1.318	4.42	1	0.971	3.25	2
2019.01.01	1.324	4.39	1	0.916	3.04	4
2019.01.02	1.419	4.99	1	0.963	3.39	3
2019.01.03	1.361	4.8	1	0.950	3.35	3
2019.01.04	1.380	4.71	1	0.956	3.26	2
Average ratings	1.262			0.873

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
25th Shanghai Television Festival	Best Television Series		Won	[19]
	Best Director	Kong Sheng, Huang Wei	Won
	Best Adapted Screenplay	Yuan Keping, Tang Yao	Won
	Best Actor	Wang Kai	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actress	Tong Yao	Won
	Best Cinematography		Nominated
	Best Art Direction		Won
Influence of Recreational Responsibilities Awards	TV Drama of the Year	Like a Flowing River	Won	[20]
12th Tencent Video Star Awards	Top Ten Series		Won	[21]
Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival	Best Actor	Wang Kai	Nominated	[22]
	Best Actress	Tong Yao	Nominated
30th China TV Golden Eagle Award	Outstanding Television Series	Like a Flowing River	Nominated	[23]
	Best Director	Kong Sheng	Won
	Best Actor	Wang Kai	Nominated
	Best Actress	Tong Yao	Won
	Best Screenwriter	Yuan Keping	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Lei Ming	Nominated
	Best Original Soundtrack	Shi Jian Zou Guo	Nominated
32nd Feitian Awards	Outstanding Television Series (Struggle Era)	Like a Flowing River	Won	[24]
	Outstanding Director	Kong Sheng, Huang Wei	Nominated
	Outstanding Actress	Tong Yao	Nominated

References

External links

• Like a Flowing River on Weibo (in Chinese)