Song of hope still heard in modern Macao

• Source: Global Times
• [23:27 December 20 2009]
• Comments

By Tian Wei

Ten years ago, Rong Yunlin was a little girl, chosen to sing a special song celebrating Macao's return to China. Now a beautiful young woman studying business administration, her life has been transformed, but the song still reverberates in her heart.

It is called "The Song of Seven Sons," based on a poem written about 80 years ago by Wen Yiduo (1899- 1946), a patriotic Chinese poet.

The "Seven Sons" in the song referred to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Weihaiwei, Guangzhou Bay, Kowloon and Lüda (present-day Lüshun and Dalian), all of which were occupied by foreign forces.

In the poem, Wen strongly expressed his opposition to colonialism, and encouraged Chinese people to unite and fight to recover their rightful territory.

Rong told me she did not understand at all the meanings of the song's words, as pronouncing them was hard enough for her. Like many Macao residents, she spoke little Putonghua at the time. Sitting in the small apartment which she shares with her parents and young brother, Rong, now 19, told me that today she finally understands what she was singing.

When I asked her what the return of Macao to China meant for young people, she didn't hesitate to give me the reply, "Hope."

Some of you who have been alert and skeptical over the years might wonder if I am writing a propaganda piece here.

Not so. After talking to so many people, hearing so many stories, and having so many frank off -the-record conversations, I am convinced that this specific Special Administration Region of China is still excited, 10 years later, to have come back to China.