Along the road of the brave

Nearly 30 years after his first visit to the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution as a student in 1996, actor Wang Renjun returned last month just ahead of the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army on Aug 1.

This time, Wang was accompanied by the production team of Glorious Struggle, a 40-episode revolution-themed TV drama in which he portrays Chairman Mao Zedong for the fifth time.

Pausing before the oil painting Autumn Harvest Uprising, Wang was reminded of scenes from the show — battle flags waving in the tumultuous years from the 1927 Nanchang Uprising to the pivotal 1935 Zunyi Conference, which shaped the Communist Party of China's course during the Long March (1934-36).

In the drama, Mao's steadfast gaze symbolizes hope amid adversity. "Passion, blood, perseverance, fearless courage. … Through this drama, I have experienced my own growth — growing alongside Chairman Mao, growing alongside our people's army," Wang says.

Glorious Struggle airs on CCTV-1 and major streaming platforms including iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku, Mango TV, Bilibili and Migu. With a peak audience share of nearly 13.7 percent, it has set a new benchmark for revolution-themed dramas.

Breaking from the traditional chronological style, Glorious Struggle uses character-driven narratives to bring history alive. With rich storytelling, meticulous cinematography, and compelling performances, it depicts young Chinese Communists, led by Mao Zedong, holding fast to their ideals amid bloodshed and hardship, overcoming enormous challenges, and ultimately finding a democratic revolutionary path suited to China's realities.