Riverine

Riverine traces the course of China’s Grand Canal, journeying through Beijing and Yangzhou to explore four unique intangible cultural heritages that have emerged along its banks: Beijing’s boatmen’s chant and ice skate sharpening, and Yangzhou’s gold and silver filigree and Yang Opera.

Through the lens of these living traditions, the film reveals the Grand Canal not merely as a waterway for transport, but as a vessel of memory, emotion, and identity. The haunting echoes of the boatmen’s chant that ripple across the water, the rhythmic scraping of an ice skate being sharpened by hand, the delicate gold and silver filigree crafted by the last of the artisans, and the lilting melodies of Yang Opera—these sounds and sights are more than just traditions. They are the pulse of a shared history, resonating deeply with the lives of those who live along the canal.

The closing words echo the eternal rhythm of the river: “From the northern end of the Grand Canal in Beijing, to the misty southern city of Yangzhou, flowing through not just millennia of water, but the passion, perseverance, and love of generations.”

Riverine is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Grand Canal, showing that it is not simply a physical waterway, but a profound part of the human experience. It is a river that flows through cities, through hearts, and through time, becoming the heartbeat of those who call its banks home.

Directed by Yuxuan Hou (China)