<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en-gb" lang="en-gb"><head>
<base href="/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"/>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>
<meta name="robots" content="index, follow"/>
<meta name="keywords" content="In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese, China, Rebecca Valli"/>
<meta name="title" content="In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese"/>
<meta name="author" content="Vitri"/>
<meta name="description" content="It’s 50 years since the death of one of China’s most prominent propaganda heroes: Lei Feng, from the era of Mao Zedong. He was an ordinary soldier known for spending all his spare money and time to help the needy – and has been China’s national symbol of sacrifice since 1963.
"/>
<meta name="generator" content="Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management"/>
<title>In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese</title>
<link href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2554&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese"/>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/com_jcomments/tpl/default/style.cssv=10" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/modules/mod_jflanguageselection/tmpl/mod_jflanguageselection.css" type="text/css"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/js/jcomments-v2.1.jsv=2"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/libraries/joomlatune/ajax.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/caption.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<script src="/plugins/content/1pixelout/audio-player.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<link type="text/css" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.css" rel="stylesheet"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="It’s 50 years since the death of one of China’s most prominent propaganda heroes: Lei Feng, from the era of Mao Zedong. He was an ordinary soldier known for spending all his spare money and time to help the needy – and has been China’s national symbol of sacrifice since 1963.
"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="images/stories/demo/ac/china_lei_feng_web_120310.jpg"/>
<meta property="fb:admins" content=""/>
<meta property="fb:app_id" content=""/>
<meta property="og:title" content="In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese"/>
<meta property="og:url" content="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"/>
<meta property="og:site_name" content="AsiaCalling"/>
<meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/themes/vauxite/style.css" type="text/css" media="screen"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/editor.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/typo.css" type="text/css"/>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/templates/ja_vauxite/js/ja.script.js"></script>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
var siteurl = '/';
var tmplurl = '/templates/ja_vauxite';
</script>
<!-- Menu head -->
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<script src="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/template.css" type="text/css"/>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/colors/red.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {height: 1%;}
img {border: none;}
#ja-cpanel-tools{
filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(enabled=true, src=../images/ja-cpanel-switcher.png, sizingMethod=image);
}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte IE 7.0]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display: inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gt IE 7]>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/ie8.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<![endif]-->
<script type="text/javascript">
function resetall () {
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_color','red', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_layout','leftlayout', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_screen','wide', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_modfunc',0, 365);
createCookie('ja-ordercolumn','-', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_font',3, 365);
window.location.reload();
}
</script>
</head>
<body id="bd" class="leftlayout wide fs3">
<a name="Top" id="Top"></a>
<ul class="accessibility">
<li><a href="/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chineselang=en" title="Skip to content">Skip to content</a></li>
<li><a href="/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chineselang=en" title="Skip to main navigation">Skip to main navigation</a></li>
<li><a href="/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chineselang=en" title="Skip to 1st column">Skip to 1st column</a></li>
<li><a href="/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chineselang=en" title="Skip to 2nd column">Skip to 2nd column</a></li>
</ul>
<!-- BEGIN: HEADER -->
<div id="ja-headerwrap">
<div id="ja-header" class="clearfix">
<h1 class="logo">
<a href="/index.php" title="AsiaCalling"><span>AsiaCalling</span></a>
</h1>
<div id="ja-search">
<div id="jflanguageselection"><div class="rawimages"><span><a href="/in/berita/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/in.gif" alt="Indonesian (ID)" title="Indonesian (ID)"/></a></span><span id="active_language"><a href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/en.gif" alt="English (United Kingdom)" title="English (United Kingdom)"/></a></span><span><a href="/bn/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/bn.gif" alt="Bengali(Bangladesh)" title="Bengali(Bangladesh)"/></a></span><span><a href="/km/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/km.gif" alt="Khmer (Cambodia)" title="Khmer (Cambodia)"/></a></span><span><a href="/ur/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/ur.gif" alt="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)" title="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)"/></a></span></div></div><!--Joom!fish V2.0.2 ()-->
<!-- © 2003-2009 Think Network, released under the GPL. -->
<!-- More information: at http://www.joomfish.net -->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: HEADER -->
<!-- BEGIN: MAIN NAVIGATION -->
<div id="ja-mainnavwrap">
<div id="ja-mainnav" class="clearfix">
<div id="jasdl-mainnav"><ul><li id="jasdl-mainnav248"><a href="/" class="menu-item0 first-item" id="menu248" title="Home"><span class="menu-title">Home</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav202"><a href="/en/news" class="menu-item1 active" id="menu202" title="News"><span class="menu-title">News</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav359"><a href="/en/special-reports" class="menu-item2" id="menu359" title="Special Reports"><span class="menu-title">Special Reports</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav181"><a href="/en/listen" class="menu-item3" id="menu181" title="Listen"><span class="menu-title">Listen</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav176"><a href="/en/tune-in" class="menu-item4" id="menu176" title="Tune In"><span class="menu-title">Tune In</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav206"><a href="/en/links" class="menu-item5" id="menu206" title="Links"><span class="menu-title">Links</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav166"><a href="/en/about-us" class="menu-item6" id="menu166" title="About Us"><span class="menu-title">About Us</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav471"><a href="/en/learn-english" class="menu-item7" id="menu471" title="Learn English"><span class="menu-title">Learn English</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav390"><a href="/en/archives" class="menu-item8" id="menu390" title="Archives"><span class="menu-title">Archives</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav492"><a href="/en/asia-forum" class="menu-item9 last-item" id="menu492" title="Asia Calling Forum"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Forum</span></a></li></ul></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
var jasdl_activemenu = new Array(202,204);
</script>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ja-subnavwrap">
<div id="ja-subnav" class="clearfix">
<div id="jasdl-subnav"><ul id="jasdl-subnav202"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem263"><a href="/en/news/indonesia" class=" first-item" id="menu263" title="Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem445"><a href="/en/news/timor-leste" id="menu445" title="Timor Leste"><span class="menu-title">Timor Leste</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem443"><a href="/en/news/north-korea" id="menu443" title="North Korea"><span class="menu-title">North Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem442"><a href="/en/news/japan" id="menu442" title="Japan"><span class="menu-title">Japan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem441"><a href="/en/news/nepal" id="menu441" title="Nepal"><span class="menu-title">Nepal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem436"><a href="/en/news/malaysia" id="menu436" title="Malaysia"><span class="menu-title">Malaysia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem382"><a href="/en/news/thailand" id="menu382" title="Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem380"><a href="/en/news/philippines" id="menu380" title="Philippines"><span class="menu-title">Philippines</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem384"><a href="/en/news/vietnam" id="menu384" title="Vietnam"><span class="menu-title">Vietnam</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem385"><a href="/en/news/cambodia" id="menu385" title="Cambodia"><span class="menu-title">Cambodia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem204"><a href="/en/news/china" class=" active" id="menu204" title="China"><span class="menu-title">China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem378"><a href="/en/news/south-korea" id="menu378" title="South Korea"><span class="menu-title">South Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem372"><a href="/en/news/sri-lanka" id="menu372" title="Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem379"><a href="/en/news/afghanistan" id="menu379" title="Afghanistan"><span class="menu-title">Afghanistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem386"><a href="/en/news/pakistan" id="menu386" title="Pakistan"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem377"><a href="/en/news/bangladesh" id="menu377" title="Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem374"><a href="/en/news/india" id="menu374" title="India"><span class="menu-title">India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem373"><a href="/en/news/burma" id="menu373" title="Burma"><span class="menu-title">Burma</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem387"><a href="/en/news/australia" id="menu387" title="Australia"><span class="menu-title">Australia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem420"><a href="/en/news/laos" id="menu420" title="Laos"><span class="menu-title">Laos</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem388"><a href="/en/news/others" id="menu388" title="Others"><span class="menu-title">Others</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem485"><a href="/en/news/quiz" id="menu485" title="Quiz"><span class="menu-title">Quiz</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem512"><a href="/en/news/asia-calling-video" class=" last-item" id="menu512" title="Asia Calling Video"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Video</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav359"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem500"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-migrant-workers" class=" first-item" id="menu500" title="Indonesia Migrant Workers"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Migrant Workers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem499"><a href="/en/special-reports/sex-workers-stories-from-across-asia" id="menu499" title="Sex workers stories from across asia"><span class="menu-title">Sex workers stories from across asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem498"><a href="/en/special-reports/indian-music-rocks-the-world" id="menu498" title="Indian music rocks the world"><span class="menu-title">Indian music rocks the world</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem491"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-circle-of-violence-in-khasmir" id="menu491" title="A Circle of Violence in Khasmir"><span class="menu-title">A Circle of Violence in Khasmir</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem490"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-rare-glimpse-inside-bangladesh-tea-estates" id="menu490" title="A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates"><span class="menu-title">A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem488"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-burma-ahead-of-the-election" id="menu488" title="Inside Burma Ahead of the Election"><span class="menu-title">Inside Burma Ahead of the Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem486"><a href="/en/special-reports/private-security-a-booming-industry-in-asia" id="menu486" title="Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem484"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-ties-with-china" id="menu484" title="North Korea’s ties with China"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s ties with China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem483"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-in-kerala-india" id="menu483" title="Life in Kerala India"><span class="menu-title">Life in Kerala India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem482"><a href="/en/special-reports/dying-for-music-in-pakistans-frontier-province" id="menu482" title="Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province"><span class="menu-title">Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem481"><a href="/en/special-reports/desperate-nurses-in-bangladesh" id="menu481" title="Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem480"><a href="/en/special-reports/nepal-feels-the-heat-of-climate-change" id="menu480" title="Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change"><span class="menu-title">Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem479"><a href="/en/special-reports/shangrila-made-in-china" id="menu479" title="Shangrila Made in China"><span class="menu-title">Shangrila Made in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem478"><a href="/en/special-reports/burmas-controversial-election" id="menu478" title="Burma’s Controversial Election"><span class="menu-title">Burma’s Controversial Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem477"><a href="/en/special-reports/after-the-war-the-hard-work-begins-in-sri-lanka" id="menu477" title="After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem458"><a href="/en/special-reports/bangladesh-battles-its-past-and-future" id="menu458" title="Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem455"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-laos-the-battery-of-south-east-asia-" id="menu455" title="Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia"><span class="menu-title">Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem453"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-amazon-of-the-sea-under-threat" id="menu453" title="The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat"><span class="menu-title">The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem454"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-citarum-river" id="menu454" title="Indonesia Citarum River"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Citarum River</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem450"><a href="/en/special-reports/last-tango-in-tokyo-for-japanese-migrants" id="menu450" title="Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants"><span class="menu-title">Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem449"><a href="/en/special-reports/on-vietnams-coast-bigger-is-betteror-is-it" id="menu449" title="On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?"><span class="menu-title">On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem448"><a href="/en/special-reports/kashmirs-cultural-revival-" id="menu448" title="Kashmir’s Cultural Revival"><span class="menu-title">Kashmir’s Cultural Revival</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem447"><a href="/en/special-reports/rohingya-journey" id="menu447" title="Rohingya Journey"><span class="menu-title">Rohingya Journey</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem446"><a href="/en/special-reports/dreamtime-wisdom-and-modern-vision-of-aboriginal" id="menu446" title="Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal"><span class="menu-title">Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem431"><a href="/en/special-reports/living-with-nature" id="menu431" title="Living with nature"><span class="menu-title">Living with nature</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem430"><a href="/en/special-reports/education-in-south-thailand-engulfed-in-fear" id="menu430" title="Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear"><span class="menu-title">Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem429"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threat-the-impact-of-climate-change" id="menu429" title="Earth under threat: the impact of climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat: the impact of climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem428"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threatsolutions-to-slow-climate-change" id="menu428" title="Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem427"><a href="/en/special-reports/mindanao-muddle-insight-into-the-conflict" id="menu427" title="Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict"><span class="menu-title">Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem426"><a href="/en/special-reports/changing-cambodia-the-winners-and-losers" id="menu426" title="Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers"><span class="menu-title">Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem432"><a href="/en/special-reports/inspiring-women" id="menu432" title="Inspiring Women"><span class="menu-title">Inspiring Women</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem424"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-unsung-heros-of-burmas-cyclone-relief-effort" id="menu424" title="The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort"><span class="menu-title">The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem425"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-rising-price-of-food-across-asia-what-has-gone-wrong" id="menu425" title="The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong"><span class="menu-title">The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem421"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-frontline-victims-of-the-war-on-terror" id="menu421" title="The frontline victims of the war on terror"><span class="menu-title">The frontline victims of the war on terror</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem422"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-murky-world-of-coal-mining-in-china" id="menu422" title="The murky world of coal mining in China"><span class="menu-title">The murky world of coal mining in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem423"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-on-the-border-exile-burmese-in-thailand" id="menu423" title="Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem501"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesias-mega-food-estate" id="menu501" title="Indonesia's Mega Food Estate"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia's Mega Food Estate</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem502"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-heir-apparent" id="menu502" title="North Korea’s Heir apparent"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s Heir apparent</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem504"><a href="/en/special-reports/pakistan-eunuchs-finally-recognized-as-citizens" class=" last-item" id="menu504" title="Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav181"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem513"><a href="/en/listen/january-december-2012" class=" first-item" id="menu513" title="January - December 2012"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2012</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem496"><a href="/en/listen/january-december-2011" id="menu496" title="January - December 2011"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2011</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem452"><a href="/en/listen/january-september-2010" id="menu452" title="January - December 2010"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2010</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem451"><a href="/en/listen/oktober-desember-2009" id="menu451" title="Oktober - Desember 2009"><span class="menu-title">Oktober - Desember 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem444"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2009" id="menu444" title="July - September 2009"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem439"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2009" id="menu439" title="April - June 2009"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem396"><a href="/en/listen/podcast" id="menu396" title="January - March 2009"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem404"><a href="/en/listen/oktober-desember-2008" id="menu404" title="October - December 2008"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem405"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2008" id="menu405" title="July - September 2008"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem406"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2008" id="menu406" title="April - June 2008"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem407"><a href="/en/listen/january-march-2008" id="menu407" title="January - March 2008"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem408"><a href="/en/listen/october-december-2007" id="menu408" title="October - December 2007"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem412"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2007" id="menu412" title="July - September 2007"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem413"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2007" class=" last-item" id="menu413" title="April - June 2007"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2007</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav176"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem177"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-asia" class=" first-item" id="menu177" title="Stations in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem178"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-indonesia" class=" last-item" id="menu178" title="Stations in Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Indonesia</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav166"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem167"><a href="/en/about-us/asia-calling-a-kbr68h" class=" first-item" id="menu167" title="Asia Calling & KBR68H"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling & KBR68H</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem168"><a href="/en/about-us/producers" id="menu168" title="Producers"><span class="menu-title">Producers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem169"><a href="/en/about-us/correspondents" id="menu169" title="Correspondents"><span class="menu-title">Correspondents</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem370"><a href="/en/about-us/media-development" id="menu370" title="Media Development"><span class="menu-title">Media Development</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem495"><a href="/en/about-us/partner-station" id="menu495" title="Regional Partners"><span class="menu-title">Regional Partners</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem506"><a href="/en/about-us/media-partner" class=" last-item" id="menu506" title="Media Partner"><span class="menu-title">Media Partner</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav471"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem472"><a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now" class=" first-item" id="menu472" title="Learn Now!"><span class="menu-title">Learn Now!</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem505"><a href="/en/learn-english/asia-music" id="menu505" title="Asia Music"><span class="menu-title">Asia Music</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem497"><a href="http://www.radioforeducation.org/" target="_blank" class=" last-item" id="menu497" title="Blog: radioforeducation.org"><span class="menu-title">Blog: radioforeducation.org</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav492"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem493"><a href="/en/asia-forum/asia-forum-2010" class=" first-item" id="menu493" title="Asia Forum 2010"><span class="menu-title">Asia Forum 2010</span></a></li></ul></div></div>
</div>
<!-- END: MAIN NAVIGATION -->
<div id="ja-containerwrap-m" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-container" class="clearfix">
<!-- BEGIN: CONTENT -->
<div id="ja-content">
<div id="ja-current-content">
<div class="ja-wrap-center"><div class="ja-wrap-top"><div class="ja-wrap-bot">
<div id="ja-pathway">
<span class="breadcrumbs pathway">
<a href="/" class="pathway">Home</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news" class="pathway">News</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news/china" class="pathway">China</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese</span>
</div>
<h2 class="contentheading">
In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese </h2>
<div class="article-toolswrap">
<div class="article-tools clearfix">
<div class="article-meta">
<span class="createdate">
Saturday, 10 March 2012 12:43 </span>
<span class="createby">
Rebecca Valli </span>
</div>
<div class="buttonheading">
<span>
<a href="/en/component/mailto/tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hc2lhY2FsbGluZy5vcmcvZW4vbmV3cy9jaGluYS8yNTU0LWluLW5lZWQtb2YtbmV3LWhlcm8tZm9yLXlvdW5nLWNoaW5lc2U=" title="E-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','width=400,height=350,menubar=yes,resizable=yes'); return false;"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/emailButton.png" alt="E-mail"/></a> </span>
<span>
<a href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=" title="Print" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/printButton.png" alt="Print"/></a> </span>
<span>
<a href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese?format=pdf" title="PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/pdf_button.png" alt="PDF"/></a> </span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-content">
<div style="height:40px;"><div id="fb-root"></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><fb:like href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese" layout="button_count" show_faces="true" send="true" width="" action="like" font="arial" colorscheme="light"></fb:like>
</div><div style="float:right;margin:10px;"><a name="fb_share" type="button_count" share_url="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.phpu=/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese&t=In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><div><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese" data-text="In Need of New “Hero” For Young Chinese" data-count="horizontal">Tweet</a></div></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js">
{lang: 'en-US'}
</script><g:plusone size="medium" href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese" count="1"></g:plusone></div></div><p/><strong><img src="/images/stories/demo/ac/china_lei_feng_web_120310.jpg" title="Photo: K2 Image and Director Ma Shi" class="caption" align="left"/>It’s 50 years since the death of one of China’s most prominent propaganda heroes: Lei Feng, from the era of Mao Zedong. </strong><br/><br/><strong>He was an ordinary soldier known for spending all his spare money and time to help the needy – and has been China’s national symbol of sacrifice since 1963. </strong><br/><br/><strong>The 5th of March is the official “Learn from Lei Feng” day, when people go to clean up parks, schools and other public places. </strong><br/><br/><strong/>But as Rebecca Valli reports from Beijing, Lei Feng’s legacy is also changing in modern China.
</strong><br/><br/>In a scene from the 1964 movie about Lei Feng, the hero runs into a mother and child on a country road, in the middle of a terrible storm. <br/><br/>The child, soaking wet, is scared and crying. <br/><br/>After learning that the two have a long way to walk, Lei Feng offers to accompany them. <br/><br/>He picks the little boy up, starts walking and even calms him with a song.<br/><br/>The movie was made two years after Lei Feng’s death. <br/><br/>Urging people to “Learn from Lei Feng”, Communist Party chief Mao Zedong tried to inspire Chinese youth with a passion for self-sacrifice and patriotism. <br/><br/>Lei Feng’s diary was published as a book; and a song called “Study Lei Feng, the good model” was released. <br/><br/>Chen Shaofeng is a professor at Beijing University’s Philosophy Department. <br/><br/> “Lei Feng had some opportunities that most people do not have. He was an orphan but he was able to receive support from many people. He was in horrible circumstances but the communist party organizations helped him. This kind of support contributed in shaping his sense of social order, he was a soldier, but outside his work duties he would always do the utmost to help other people.”<br/><br/>Authorities have promoted “Lei Feng's spirit” – a combination of humble obedience and lighthearted altruism – in waves ever since the 1960s,.<br/><br/>Party officials often turn the spotlight on Lei Feng’s good behavior, to encourage people to unite in times of moral crisis or social tension. <br/><br/>50 years after his death, the Party’s Central Committe ordered media to intensify coverage of “Lei Feng activities.” A book of his collected writings was also published for the occasion. <br/><br/>And Lei Feng myth is undergoing some changes. <br/><br/>A short film called “Lei Feng Man” made last year by filmmaker Ma Shi has been viewed by millions online. <br/><br/>The movie tells the story of Yingxiong –which means ‘hero’ in Chinese. <br/><br/>Yingxiong is given Lei Feng’s clothes and immediately transforms into a modern version of the icon. <br/><br/>Dressed in a superhero outfit and riding a rusty bike, he hits the streets – scraping off advertisements plastered across the city, helping a blind person to cross the street, and climbing a tree to fetch a little boy’s kite. <br/><br/>The film’s producer, Zhang Liangliang, says this is not mocking the old hero. <br/><br/> “I don't think we are making fun of Lei Feng. It is more of a reinterpretation of Lei Feng, done in an entertaining way.”<br/> <br/>Zhang is a fresh graduate of China’s top film school and he’s idealistic about Lei Feng’s spirit.<br/><br/>Yet he acknowledges that young people today doubt that Lei Feng was in fact a real person. <br/><br/> “They think that Lei Feng seems too perfect to be real. As if he was invented, he does not seem like a person who really existed.”<br/> <br/>To many young Chinese, widespread corruption and undeserved privileges suggest that officials don’t practice what they preach. <br/><br/>Professor Chen Shaofeng from Beijing University says young people now have wider access to information through the internet – making official propaganda a difficult task. <br/><br/> “When these information for example about Lei Feng is spread to young people now, it's like a small drop of water into the big sea. Propaganda can move people, but its effectiveness is greater if it's in concert with how the civil society is evolving. It cannot be excessive because otherwise people will not believe you, if you tell someone's story in too perfect terms, then people will not trust you.”<br/><br/>An actor of last year’s movie is Li Zhen, who was born in the 1980s.<br/><br/>He says today’s youth don’t need a new hero, but instead a new set of principles to live by. <br/><br/> “A more materialistic culture started to develop then, and spiritually things evolved as well. People born afterwards came in contact with many more things than even my generation did, their concept of hero became multifaceted.”</p><div style="border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:0px;padding:10px;text-align:center;"><fb:comments href="/en/news/china/2554-in-need-of-new-hero-for-young-chinese" num_posts="10" width="550" colorscheme="light"></fb:comments></div></div>
<span class="article_separator"> </span>
<script type="text/javascript">
var jcomments=new JComments(2554, 'com_content','index.php?option=com_jcomments&tmpl=component&lang=');
jcomments.setList('comments-list');
</script>
<div id="jc">
<div id="comments"><div class="comments-list" id="comments-list-0"></div>
</div>
<h4>Add comment</h4>
<a id="addcomments" href="#addcomments"></a>
<form id="comments-form" name="comments-form" action="javascript:void(null);">
<div class="comments-policy">Asia Calling House Rules for Comments:<br/>We reserve the right to fail messages that:<br/>· Are likely to provoke, attack or offend others<br/>· Are racist, homophobic or sexists or otherwise objectionable<br/>· Contain swear words or other language likely to offend<br/>· Break the law or encourage illegal behavior<br/>· Include contact details including number or email address<br/>· Are considered to be advertising or promoting a product or SPAM<br/>· Are considered off-topic</div>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-name" type="text" name="name" value="" maxlength="20" size="22" tabindex="1"/>
<label for="comments-form-name">Name (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-email" type="text" name="email" value="" size="22" tabindex="2"/>
<label for="comments-form-email">E-mail (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-homepage" type="text" name="homepage" value="" size="22" tabindex="3"/>
<label for="comments-form-homepage">Website</label>
</p>
<p>
<textarea id="comments-form-comment" name="comment" cols="65" rows="8" tabindex="5"></textarea>
</p>
<p>
<input class="checkbox" id="comments-form-subscribe" type="checkbox" name="subscribe" value="1" tabindex="5"/>
<label for="comments-form-subscribe">Notify me of follow-up comments</label><br/>
</p>
<p>
<img class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');" id="comments-form-captcha-image" name="captcha-image" src="/index.phpoption=com_jcomments&task=captcha&tmpl=component&ac=66875" width="120" height="60" alt="Security code"/><br/>
<span class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');">Refresh</span><br/>
<input class="captcha" id="comments-form-captcha" type="text" name="captcha-refid" value="" size="5" tabindex="6"/><br/>
</p>
<div id="comments-form-buttons">
<div class="btn" id="comments-form-send"><div><a href="#" tabindex="7" onclick="jcomments.saveComment();return false;" title="Send (Ctrl+Enter)">Send</a></div></div>
<div class="btn" id="comments-form-cancel" style="display:none;"><div><a href="#" tabindex="8" onclick="return false;" title="Cancel">Cancel</a></div></div>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
</div>
<input type="hidden" name="object_id" value="2554"/>
<input type="hidden" name="object_group" value="com_content"/>
</form>
<script type="text/javascript">
function JCommentsInitializeForm()
{
var jcEditor = new JCommentsEditor('comments-form-comment', true);
jcEditor.addButton('b','Bold','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('i','Italic','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('u','Underlined','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('s','Striked','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('img','Image','Enter full URL to the image');
jcEditor.addButton('url','Link','Enter full URL');
jcEditor.addButton('quote','Quote','Enter text to quote');
jcEditor.initSmiles('/components/com_jcomments/images/smiles');
jcEditor.addSmile(':D','laugh.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':lol:','lol.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-)','smile.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(';-)','wink.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile('8)','cool.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-|','normal.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-*','whistling.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':oops:','redface.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':sad:','sad.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':cry:','cry.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':o','surprised.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-?','confused.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-x','sick.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':eek:','shocked.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':zzz','sleeping.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':P','tongue.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':roll:','rolleyes.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':sigh:','unsure.gif');
jcEditor.addCounter(1000, '', ' symbols left', 'counter');
jcomments.setForm(new JCommentsForm('comments-form', jcEditor));
}
setTimeout(JCommentsInitializeForm, 100);
</script>
<div id="comments-footer" align="center"><a href="http://www.joomlatune.com/" title="JComments" target="_blank">JComments</a></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
jcomments.setAntiCache(1,0,0);
</script>
</div>
</div></div></div>
<!-- BEGIN: JAZIN -->
<!-- END: JAZIN -->
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: CONTENT -->
<!-- BEGIN: COLUMNS -->
<div id="ja-colwrap">
<!-- BEGIN: MASSCOL -->
<div id="ja-colmass" class="clearfix">
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2554&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component">
<img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/livemarks.png" alt="feed-image"/> <span>Asia Calling</span></a> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center"><a target="_blank" title="Podcast" href="/en/component/podcast/view=feed&format=raw"><img src="/images/stories/subscribe-podcast_logo.png" height="88" width="106"/></a> <a target="_blank" title="Twitter Asia Calling" href="http://twitter.com/#!/asiacalling"><img src="/images/stories/twitter_followus.png" height="86" width="108"/></a> </div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="/en/news/quiz"><img src="/images/stories/quiz-icon.gif" border="0"/></a></div>
</div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="ja-tabswrap vauxite" style="width:100%;"> <div id="myTab-150519193" class="container"> <div class="ja-tabs-title-top" style="height:30px;">
<ul class="ja-tabs-title"><li title="2220"><h3><span>This week on Asia Calling</span></h3></li></ul>
</div>
<div class="ja-tab-panels-top"><div class="ja-tab-content">
<div class="ja-tab-subcontent"><table height="106" border="0" width="314">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: justify;">
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080;"><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="color: #000080;"><strong></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The rise of Burmese young bloods:</strong></span></span> Burma’s political change has opened up a new chance to campaign for opposition party the National League of Democracy. The NLD boycotted the 2010 election – but now it’s ready for the by-elect next month. Traditionally only family dynasties who have been involved in politics for generations usually stand for election. But now Burma has a whole new generation of politicians doing it for themselves. Nay Thwin has this report.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>A pursuit of happiness in Bhutan tourism:</strong></span></span> Bhutan wants the tourist sector to play a larger role in national development. But expanding tourism poses challenges for the Kingdom – some fear accelerated growth will damage the country’s culture. Ron Corben has the report from the Kingdom popular for its Gross National Happiness for the people.</span></p>
<table height="1" border="0" width="304">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="standardtext" valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;" align="justify"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>These stories and much more this week </strong></span></p>
<div align="center"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>on Asia Calling: </strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<h4><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Your Window on Asia </strong></span></h4>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table> </div>
</div></div> </div>
</div><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
window.addEvent("load", init);
function init() {
myTabs1 = new JATabs("myTab-150519193", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false});
}
//new JATabs("myTab-150519193", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false});
</script> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/learn-english/asia-music"><img src="/images/stories/asia-music.gif"/></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
</div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: MASSCOL -->
<div id="ja-cols" class="clearfix">
</div>
</div><br/>
<!-- END: COLUMNS -->
</div></div>
<!-- BEGIN: FOOTER -->
<div id="ja-footerwrap" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-footer">
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ccffff;">Asia Calling owns all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), and has the exclusive perpetual worldwide right to use, in whole or in part, and in all manner and media, all material provided to Asia Calling by its Correspondents, with no further obligation to the Correspondent. <br/></span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: FOOTER -->
<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl./" : "20120311111337/http://www./");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-18317669-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}</script>
</body>
</html>