The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth.

In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia.

Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive.

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron
Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Show less