Peking University, April 25, 2025: The popular TV series Northward is adapted from a novel by Peking University graduate Xu Zechen, reflecting the author’s personal journey from a childhood spent by the Grand Canal to his eventual move northward to study at Peking University.

The TV series follows the lives of six childhood friends who grow up together by the Grand Canal. As they journey north to pursue their careers, they continue to support each other through adulthood. Told from the perspective of ordinary people, the story captures the evolving landscape of the Canal in the new era.

Author Xu Zechen

The series reflects Xu’s own journey. Born in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, he has a tender place in his heart for the Grand Canal, having spent most of his childhood swimming and fishing in it.

As he grew older, he attended junior high in a nearby town where the Shi’an Canal, the longest canal in Jiangsu province, flowed right past his school. Later, he worked for several years in Huai’an, a city known as the “capital of canals”.

After completing his undergraduate studies, he returned to Huaiyin Normal University as a teacher before pursuing further education at the Peking University’s Department of Chinese Language and Literature. 

Reflecting on his time at PKU, Xu remarked, “Peking University has had a profound impact on me. Mr. Cao Wenxuan’s teachings have benefited me for a lifetime, and the academic environment has provided me with a solid foundation in literary history.”


Many people grow up by rivers but don't often think about their meaning. When asked why he chose to focus on the Grand Canal, Xu shared his perspective: "I grew up in a remote village, far from the outside world. The river became my way of imagining what lay beyond. I followed each node along the water and imagined a world bigger than my own."
To Xu, the Canal is more than just a body of water — it has a voice.
 "The river speaks to me through its endless waves — come if you must, go if you will. The water flows freely where the wind and terrain take it, which dawned on me that we should treat life and death with the same composed decisiveness.” 
In his earlier works, the Grand Canal was just a background. However, a conversation with a friend made Xu consider a new idea: What if the canal itself became a character? He began researching the canal more deeply, and it was this dedication that brought the canal to life in Northward as a "living heritage," a symbol of change and connection.
Northward does more than tell a story—it reflects the history of a nation and the personal struggles of individuals. As readers follow the Canal's journey, they also explore the struggles of identity, loss, and belonging. The novel touches on the universal challenge of balancing where we come from, with where we want to go in an increasingly globalized world.
By weaving together the past and the present, the collective and the individual, Northward offers a fresh perspective on the idea of home. It is not just a historical account; but rather a meditation on memory and the passage of time. The Canal becomes a space where history and personal stories flow together, creating a powerful reflection on the questions: "Who are we? Where do we come from?” and “Where are we going?"


Written by: Yu Peijia, Mikal
Edited by: Phoon Hui Yin, Andrena, Chen Shizhuo
Source: PKU WeChat (Chinese)