An inspiring journey

"Xian told us to find feelings and emotions that we could put into our singing. As a young college student, I started to realize the greatness of music for the first time," Meng says. She recalls how Xian demonstrated and taught them to sing a patriotic lyric, which calls on all the workers of the world to fight oppression.

As well as talking about the early years, in which Yan'an shone light on domestic art and literary creativity, the program also reflects the inheritance and development of the Yan'an spirit, exemplified by the 2021 ballet Shan He (Rivers and Mountains), which commemorates Wuhan's battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the blockbuster My People, My Country, an anthology to reflect China's development over the past seven decades.

With the spirit of the 1942 Yan'an talks still cherished today, most celebrities on the show say they will continue to guide their creativity. Actor Liu Peiqi, known for leading a bunch of role model-themed TV series such as Gu Wenchang, says: "The 1942 talks are like a beacon, lighting the path for many literary and artistic creators. It still leads us to continue the journey, which started eight decades ago."