02 April 2024

Haihuang Bridge over the Yellow River in Ganduzhen, Qinghai (China)

In ancient times, it was believed that the Yellow River flowed from Heaven as a continuation of the Milky Way. Zhang Qian was commissioned to find the source of the Yellow River. After sailing up-river for many days, he saw a girl spinning and a cow herd. Upon asking the girl where he was, she presented him with her shuttle with instructions to show it to the astrologer Yan Junping. When he returned, the astrologer recognized it as the shuttle of the Weaving Girl (Vega), and, moreover, said that at the time Zhang received the shuttle, he had seen a wandering star interpose itself between the Weaving Girl and the cow herd (Altair).

Legend about the Yellow River