Documentary “The Pearl River” Screened at Guangzhou Maritime Museum

Recently, the “Widely Known” Social Science Lecture Series: documentary The Pearl River screening event was held at the Guangzhou Maritime Museum. The event was organized by the Guangzhou Association of Social Science Societies and Guangzhou Radio and Television, and hosted by the Guangzhou Maritime Museum.

As China’s first comprehensive documentary tracing the 2,320-kilometer Pearl River, The Pearl River centers on maritime affairs and follows the thread of commerce and trade, vividly documenting the ecological and social transformations of the Pearl River basin. On December 11, 2025, the documentary was named one of the Top 10 Outstanding Documentaries of the “14th Five-Year Plan” period (2025) at the inaugural China Documentary High-Quality Development Forum, earning recognition as a significant visual work showcasing China’s riverine civilization.

The screening featured the third episode of The Pearl River, titled Seas Without Turbulence. This episode focuses on Guangzhou maritime routes during the Tang and Song dynasties, the prosperous trade of the Thirteen Factories (Canton System) in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the modernization of ports in modern times. It traces the historical evolution of the Pearl River from a key node of the ancient Maritime Silk Road to a core engine of today’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Through 4K ultra-high-definition visuals, digital restoration technology, and valuable historical documents, the film offers an immersive audiovisual experience. The chief director of the documentary, Xu Jie, shared insights into the creative process and his artistic dedication to portraying Pearl River civilization through a specially recorded video message for the audience.