Guarding the river: Three couples' journals

2026 marks 80 years of public river harnessing efforts led by the Communist Party of China along the Yellow River. Known as the cradle of Chinese civilization, the Yellow River has historically carried one of the highest sediment loads on Earth, bringing devastation to those living along its paths. Taming its waters has long been essential to ensuring the safety and livelihoods of millions. In this video, meet three couples who dedicate their daily lives to protecting the river: dike flood-control workers, combined highway-railway bridge maintenance crew members and artisans of the 500-year-old Huimin clay sculpture craft.