On June 16, 1988, the political commentary "River Elegy" was first broadcast on China Central Television. The series has a total of six episodes. "River Elegy" was directed by Xia Jun, with Su Xiaokang and Wang Luxiang as head writers. The documentary reflects on and criticizes what it calls China's traditional "loess civilization", with examples including the worship of dragons, Great Wall culture, and China's agricultural civilization. The series takes the position that China's weakness stems from it being bound by these traditional cultural elements, and advocates learning from the Western "blue ocean civilization", that is, replacing agriculture with industry, opening up the market economy, engaging in international trade, and enhancing technology. Su Xiaokang once wrote in an article, "We can't change the color of our skin, just like we can't change the color of the Yellow River. However, we must rebuild the Chinese people's culture — our psychological structure." Throughout the 1980s, an era of great eagerness to learn from the West and to reflect on the Cultural Revolution, "River Elegy" had a great social impact, and led to even more discussions about China's future.

After 1989's pro-democracy movement, "River Elegy" was considered a classic example of propagating "bourgeois liberalization" and "nihilism", as well as a "blueprint for counter-revolutionary riots". The series has been banned ever since. Chief writers Su Xiaokang and Wang Luxiang were also called "the chief pushers of unrest behind the scenes" by the officials, and had warrants out for their arrest.

References: "River Elegy"; [遠見雜誌("Global Views Monthly")(Chinese)] (https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/1055); [開放雜誌("Open Magazine")(Chinese)] (http://www.open.com.hk/old_version/0906p56.html)

The full three-hour version of "River Elegy". The documentary, which premiered on June 16, 1988, was directed by Xia Jun, with Su Xiaokang and Wang Luxiang as head writers, and scholar Xie Xuanjun as the original planner of the film's primary content.