The Yellow River is the mother river of China and is known as the cradle of Chinese civilization. The river begins its journey in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions before emptying into the Bohai Sea. The first bend is located at Ruoergai County's Tangke Town, the juncture of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu provinces. It flows through a wonderful landscape of valleys, meadows, wild flowers and blue sky.