| Genre: | Period |
| Country: | China |
| Language: | Chinese |
| Num Episodes: | 47 (Part 1), 39 (Part 2) |
| Executive Producer: | Hou Hongliang |
| Camera: | Multiple-camera setup |
| Runtime: | 40-45 minutes |
| Last Aired: | present |
| Channel: | Dragon TV, Beijing TV |
Like a Flowing River is a 2018 Chinese period drama based on Ah Nai's novel River of Time (大江东去 IPA:). 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.
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]
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. 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. 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]
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. On December 6, Dong Zijian was cast as Yang Xun.
| Like a Flowing River Original Soundtrack (OST) | |
| Type: | soundtrack |
| Artist: | Various artists |
| Caption: | Album cover |
| 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]
| 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 | |||||
| Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [19] | ||||
| Best Director | Kong Sheng, Huang Wei | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Yuan Keping, Tang Yao | |||
| Best Cinematography | ||||
| Best Art Direction | ||||
| Influence of Recreational Responsibilities Awards | TV Drama of the Year | Like a Flowing River | [20] | |
| 12th Tencent Video Star Awards | Top Ten Series | [21] | ||
| Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | [22] | ||
| Best Actress | Tong Yao | |||
| 30th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Outstanding Television Series | Like a Flowing River | [23] | |
| Best Director | Kong Sheng | |||
| Best Actor | Wang Kai | |||
| Best Actress | Tong Yao | |||
| Best Screenwriter | Yuan Keping | |||
| Best Cinematography | Lei Ming | |||
| Best Original Soundtrack | Shi Jian Zou Guo | |||
| 32nd Feitian Awards | Outstanding Television Series (Struggle Era) | Like a Flowing River | [24] | |
| Outstanding Director | Kong Sheng, Huang Wei | |||
| Outstanding Actress | Tong Yao | |||