Why Is the Huang He River Known as China’s Sorrow?

The Huang He, also known as the Yellow River, is often referred to as “China’s Sorrow” due to its long history of devastating floods. The river’s lower reaches, particularly across the North China Plain, are prone to overflowing because of the heavy silt load. Since the 2nd century bce, the Huang He has flooded an estimated 1,500 times, often with catastrophic consequences.

Among the most devastating floods were those in 1887, 1931, and 1938, which collectively resulted in millions of deaths. The 1931 flood alone submerged 34,000 square miles (88,060 square km) of land, leaving 80 million people homeless and causing an estimated 850,000 to 4,000,000 deaths. These events are considered some of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Throughout history, China has made numerous attempts to control the Huang He through the construction of dikes, overflow channels, and dams. Despite these efforts, the river’s continual buildup of silt has made effective management difficult. The flood-control program initiated in 1955, which included extensive dike construction and reforestation, has helped prevent major floods since 1945, but the river’s potential for destruction remains a concern.