Songs of Youth （1）
Echoes of the May 4th Movement
Tian´anmen literally means the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Formerly known as Chengtianmen or the Gate That Bears Heaven, it was built in 1417. It served as the front gate of the Forbidden City during the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the Republic of China, Tian´anmen was opened to the public. From a site where imperial edicts were issued, it was turned into a place where the public expressed their opinions. Tian´anmen became a political symbol in the eyes of the Chinese.
Songs of Youth （2）
Marriage Revolution
Many chastity arches remain in Shexian County, Anhui Province. They were symbols of Chinese women´s cruel fate for thousands of years. The cold stone arches silently showed the taboos like the “three obedience and four virtues.” A woman had to be obedient to her father before marriage, to her husband after marriage and to her son after her husband´s death； and she had to keep morality, proper speech, modest manner and diligent work.
Songs of Youth （3）
Modern Women
In May 1919, Cai Yuanpei, President of Beijing University, received a letter from Gansu Province. In her letter, a girl by the name of Deng Chunlan applied for admission to Beijing University. Her letter was reprinted in many newspapers and periodicals. At the end of the year, Cai Yuanpei told the press definitely that he approved women´s applications for entrance to Beijing University.
Songs of Youth （4）
Saving the Nation through Science
Zhan Tianyou, the most famous railway engineer in China, died in 1919. A giant star fell from the sky. As one of the earliest Chinese students studying abroad, he was the first Chinese accepted as a member of the American Engineers´ Association. The pioneer in science was a model followed by a generation of Chinese youth.
Songs of Youth （5）
Going to France for Work－Study Programmes
Around the May 4th Movement, the dock at the Bund in Shanghai was a hub of activity. On March 17, 1919, a total of 89 Chinese students boarded a ship here to take a voyage. In less than two years up to December 1920, nearly two thousand young people traveled across the ocean to study in France.
Songs of Youth （6）
Enlightenment
Beijing was at the peak of summer in August 1920. The turbulence that had arisen a year ago died down. It was quiet and cool in the Taoranting Park. A group of young students who were enthusiastic for social reform gathered here to discuss the future of China.
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