It is directed by Kong Sheng and Huang Wei, and stars Wang Kai, Yang Shuo and Dong Zijian as budding entrepreneurs who take advantage of the economic reforms being rolled out in 1970s China.

[10] It is reported that the money used to "restore the texture of the age" was double the amount used in other TV series, with ultra-wide format used for the first time.

[11] For the many snow scenes, the crew used naturally degradable paper foam instead of the cheaper magnesium sulfate or aluminum, citing that the old way produced pollution.

[13][14] At Tencent Video VVision Conference held on November 8, 2017, Like a Flowing River was announced, with confirmation of its television broadcast on Dragon TV as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of China's open door policy.

[16] On December 4, the show held a press conference in Shanghai, and announced that the promotion song of the same name would be sung by Wang Kai.