The Story of Spring is a patriotic Chinese song

Propaganda in the People's Republic of China

Propaganda in the People's Republic of China as interpreted in Western media refers to the Communist Party of China's use of propaganda to sway public and international opinion in favor of its policies. Domestically, this includes censorship of proscribed views and an active cultivation of views...

 praising Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...

, although it never mentions him by name. Originally sung by famous Chinese folk singer Dong Wenhua

Dong Wenhua

Dong Wenhua is a famous Chinese singer from the People's Liberation Army. "Moon of the Fifteenth", "Story of Spring", as well as many other songs of hers were popular to the youth generation of the 80's and the early 90's. China's Ministry of Culture has dedicated an award in her name...

, Deng is referred to as "an old man" throughout the song. Its two verses allude to Deng's economic reform policies and their success from its inception in spring 1978 to his southern visit in spring 1992, when the song was created.

The song was widely played during the 1990s and is now a familiar tune to most Chinese people living on the mainland. It was especially widely played following Deng's death and was a feature performance at the 1997 CCTV New Year's Gala

CCTV New Year's Gala

The CCTV New Year's Gala is a Chinese New Year special produced by China Central Television. Broadcast on the eve of Chinese New Year on its flagship CCTV-1, satellite channels CCTV-4, CCTV-9, CCTV-E, CCTV-F, and CCTV-HD, the broadcast has a yearly viewership of over 700 million viewers, making it...

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