The Yellow River is a documentation of the effects of modernisation along the second largest river in China. This river runs through nine provinces and it has a great number of mythological significance attached to it Also, it’s said to be the origin of ancient Chinese civilisation.

Zhang Kechun decided to walk along the Yellow River, following the flow of the water across his homeland. This way, he would get to experience the influence of the stream in every location. One could say, this was a sort of spiritual journey where Kechun tried to find his roots.

However, with modernisation comes loss. The river, once full of myths, legends and a father-like presence had started to disappear. Nevertheless, the message Kechun decides to leave to the viewer is one of hope and optimism.

Zhang Kechun, born in 1980 in Sichuan province, China. He won the National Geographic Picks Global Prize in 2008, was nominated by Three Shadow Photo Award in 2012, nominated by Sony World Photography Awards in 2012 and 2013, nominated by the Prix HSBC Pour la Photographie 2014. He won Arles Discovery Award 2014.