The Yellow River is China’s second longest river at almost 5,500km. Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province of western China, it flows through nine provinces, and empties into the Bohai Sea near the city of Dongying in Shandong province. The Yellow River is also called the “cradle of Chinese civilisation” because the basin was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilisation, and the most prosperous region in the early Chinese history.

The existence of the Yellow River is essential to China, however it has also been responsible for deadly floods, where the deadliest one killed 7 million people.

Additionally, pollution has plagued the Yellow River as well. Findings from a survey conducted in 2007, which covered 8.384 miles of the river, show that only 16 per cent of the samples taken was water considered safe for household use. Industrial and manufacturing discharges made up 70 per cent of all discharges, with per cent originating from households. However, specific pollutants were not identified.