Online program honors veterans' stories through art"

After nearly 30 years of service, actor and former head of an art troupe of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Zhou Wei, faced a wave of emotions upon his retirement in 2018.

"How do their lives change after veterans return to their hometowns? What about their new careers and marriages? I had never really delved into these questions before I myself took off the military uniform," Zhou reflected during a recent symposium discussing the 2024 Ben Se Hua Nian (All Those Glorious Years), an online program tailored for veterans.

As the first program of its kind in the country, guided by the Beijing Municipal Veterans Affairs Bureau, it has integrated a variety of art forms, such as singing, dancing, recitation, instrumental performance, and mini-plays, to honor the more than 38 million veterans in China. The program premiered during Spring Festival on the streaming site iQiyi earlier this year.

Wang Zhaonan, vice-president of iQiyi, emphasized that producing the project has provided them with a profound understanding of veterans.

"They have devoted the prime years of their lives to the military, protecting our country. Upon retiring, some choose to continue serving society in roles such as sanitation workers, traffic police, firefighters, or urban management officers, safeguarding us in a different capacity. It is truly commendable," Wang said.