Celebrating western holidays, following K-pop bands and going abroad to study, many young people are thought to be not as patriotic (爱国的) as their parents or grandparents.

But data has shown that young Chinese people have demonstrated(表现) a growing sense of national pride and patriotism in recent years.

According to website of the Communist Youth League of China, a central association representing young people, the organization has more than 15.7 million followers on SinaWeibo. Each post related to topics such as national unity(团结), patriotism and the country’s development has received thousands of comments and “likes”.

On March 5, the league wrote a post celebrating the 123rd anniversary of the birth of China’s first premier, Zhou Enlai, with thousands of young internet users leaving comments expressing how lucky and happy they felt to be living in the country.

One user, “Xu Baobao”, posted: “We’ll contribute our young energy to national rejuvenation(复兴).” Another wrote, “May we use our youth to protect China.”

Young people not only expressed their patriotism in words, but also through action. In 2019, when riots(骚乱) related to an extradition(引渡逃犯) bill broke out in Hong Kong, an online community known as Di Bar, comprising young Chinese living around the world, launched a campaign to explain the issue to a global audience and to voice support for the city’s police on digital platforms.

Chinese youths’ patriotism may actually be stronger than ever, and with good reason. Guo Yuanyuan, associate dean of the School of Culture and Communication at Capital University of Economics and Business, said, “ The great material improvement can give young people more room for spiritual life.”

“Our older generations experienced a very difficult time, and before reform and opening-up, the economy was far behind those in the West. Now, with China rising to become the second largest economy in the world, making us roughly on par (不相上下) with the West in many respects, young people’s patriotic sentiment has naturally risen.”

Boris, a foreign student at Communication University of China, often shares his experiences of Chinese culture on his vlog (视频博客).

In one video, for example, Boris shared how he had learned the Chinese word dongxi. He translated each part separately into “east west”. And he introduced one theory (说法) about how dongxi came to mean “things”. He told people that all marketplaces in ancient Chinese cities were set up along a single road that ran from east to west. So when you would say qu mai dongxi. you’d be saying, “I’m going to buy things.”

Some other videos show his reading Chinese poems and performing kung fu in Chinese traditional costume, which are quite welcome among his 40, 000 followers.

“Many of my followers are learning Chinese,” Boris said. “But sadly, they know little about Chinese culture and the country.”

Like many foreigners, Boris once believed that all Chinese could perform kung fu, flying onto roofs and walking over walls. He thought the country was not that developed. But after he got a scholarship (奖学金) to study in China in 2019, his view changed. “China has entered a new period, but many people’s impressions of China are still stuck in the1970s,” Boris said. “That’s why I started to shoot vlogs to share Chinese culture in 2019.”

Until now, Boris has posted more than 40 Chinese culture vlogs online. But making these vlogs is not easy. Take reading the poem Second Farewell to Cambridge by Xu Zhimo as an example.

“I can understand and read every word in the poem,” Boris said. “But to touch readers, I need to use proper feelings while reading.” So he needed to look for much background information and make his feelings suit each part of the poem.

Though shooting these vlogs takes lots of time, the young man feels proud that his vlogs have inspired many people. Boris said that he wanted to continue bridging the differences between two cultures. “This goal may not be achieved easily, but I will spare no efforts to do my part.”

Watson entered Mr. Smith’s office. The boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn’t do well without giving them a second chance.

“Watson,” said Mr. Smith, “this past year your department hasn’t earned money. We’re going to drop that department. It’s finished. I’m sorry, ______________.’’ “But, sir — if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School.”

“What’s that!” said the boss. “Riverside! I didn’t know you had a boy there. That’s an expensive school for a man with your salary.”

“I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He’s a star athlete and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ there.”

The boss sat seriously still for a long time — a faraway (恍惚的) look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, “We’ve got to close your department, Watson. But you’ll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours — maybe more pay. Now get out. You’re here for life.”

Watson got out, with surprise on his face. Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie’s last letter from Riverside School — written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read:

I can’t say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it’s the same everywhere when you're a cripple (跛脚的人). But don’t worry about me, Dad. And there’s one boy here who is really great. He’s a track star and boxing champ (冠军) and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, I am so grateful to him, when I grow up, I want to do something for Champ. Something big — that he won’t even know about.

Your son,

Herbie