With three Guinness World Records under their belt, Qin Haiqun’s team is redefining drone shows. Over the past decade, they have transformed simple aerial devices into artistic wonders, illuminating city skies while reimagining entertainment with innovation and perseverance.
Chasing his childhood dream of flying, Zhao Deli has completed 1,560 test flights — enduring countless crashes — to create his drone motorcycle. Failure, he proves, is simply a stepping stone to success.
Through his camera lens, Xi Zhinong has been protecting nature for 40 years and counting, understanding that conservation is a never-ending journey. From documenting Tibetan antelopes threatened by poaching to safeguarding the habitats of green peacocks, he has turned his love of wildlife into a lifelong commitment.
With an average age of just 26, a group of young innovators is pushing China’s robotics industry forward with relentless R&D. Their humanoid robots and robotic dogs demonstrate how youthful passion can drive technological breakthroughs.
The China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe takes to the stage with confidence and purpose. Deaf dancers like Wei Jingyang convey hope through movement, knowing that physical limitations can never dim the light of ambition.
Across China, countless dream-chasers are shaping their realities through unwavering dedication. An ancient saying puts it simply: dreams and wishes may be far, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated pursuit. CGTN’s feature series “Knowing China Through the Classics” shares these inspiring stories, exploring how traditional wisdom — often cited by President Xi Jinping — continues to shape modern Chinese society.
Other examples of the old inspiring the new can be seen in the animated sensation “Ne Zha 2,” which took over US$2.2 billion at the box office, and in composer Yang Rui’s modern adaptation of a 2,500-year-old, UNESCO-listed Dong chorus. Together, they offer new ways of retelling Eastern legends, showing how both “prose and poetry are composed to reflect the times and reality.”
Though it has not been an easy year for the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping has steadily navigated the ups and downs of 2025, steering the world’s second-largest economy forward. Guided by ancient wisdom, China has marked a pivotal year, capturing global attention with breakthroughs such as DeepSeek AI, humanoid robots, and its resilience amid trade tensions.
These stories of pursuing dreams reveal a China full of hope and vitality — a nation building a new tomorrow on ancient foundations.
