In 1931, French automotive industrialist André Citroën organized a large-scale advertising campaign called the "Yellow Raid." The goal of the car rally in his vehicles was to demonstrate their reliability by traveling from Beirut to Beijing. The preparation for the expedition was very thorough: a special vehicle for radio communication was created, and bases for food, refueling, and repairs were organized along the route. More than 600 camels were used to provide participants with necessary resources. Among the group was Russian artist Alexander Yakovlev, who immortalized this journey in his works.

Alexander Yakovlev was born into the family of the inventor of the first Russian automobile, Evgeny Yakovlev. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, and his works were exhibited at many exhibitions. In 1917, while in Beijing, Yakovlev learned about the revolution and decided not to return to Russia, moving to France, where he later received an unusual offer from Citroën.

On April 4, 1931, the first group of motorists departed from Beirut. The journey through the Middle East went smoothly, albeit at a fast pace. Yakovlev was allocated only 3 hours for sketches, and local authorities often created obstacles. The artist recalled: "The issue with models, even during long stops, is resolved with great difficulty, as portraits were forbidden by the Koran. In Persia, the authorities wanted to see only images of modern Persia striving for a European appearance."

In Afghanistan, difficulties intensified. On mountain paths, cars had to be disassembled and carried over passes, facing both 40-degree heat and severe frosts. In China, the group was attacked by bandits, and they had to be rescued through diplomatic means. Despite all the hardships, Alexander Yakovlev continued to paint and brought back about 300 canvases from the trip. The result was a successful exhibition at the Charpentier Gallery in 1933. Thus, what neither Asian nor European artists could capture was accomplished by a simple Russian artist.