The Yellow River flows through nine cities and enters the sea in Shandong province, nurturing its people, contributing to its distinctive culture, and creating spectacular landscapes.

Known as China's "mother river" and the cradle of Chinese civilization, the Yellow River flows about 5,464 kilometers, passing through nine provincial-level regions in the country. It supplies water to 12 percent of China's population and irrigates 17 percent of the country's arable land.

The Yellow River joins the Bohai Sea in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo by Ding Hongan/WeChat account: sdhuabao]

A bird's-eye view of the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve in Dongying, Shandong province [Photo by Ding Hongan/WeChat account: sdhuabao]

Red-crowned cranes are seen at a national nature reserve along the Yellow River. [Photo by Ding Hongan/WeChat account: sdhuabao]

The magnificent view along the Yellow River during sunset [Photo by Li Weidong/WeChat account: sdhuabao]

A boat floats on the Yellow River during sunset. [Photo by Zhou Zhonghua/WeChat account: sdhuabao]

The magnificent view along the Yellow River [Photo by Ma Qingguo/WeChat account: sdhuabao]