The official national anthem of China is titled "March of the Volunteers" (义勇军进行曲). It was written in 1935 by the poet and playwright, Tian Han, and the composer, Nie Er.

Origins

The song honors soldiers and revolutionaries who fought the Japanese in northeast China in the 1930s. It was originally written as a theme song to a popular propaganda play and movie that encouraged the Chinese people to resist the Japanese invasion.

Both Tian Han and Nie Er were active in the resistance. Nie Er was influenced by popular revolutionary songs at the time, including "The Internationale." He drowned in 1935.

Anthem Banned

Years later during the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, Tian Han was jailed and subsequently died in 1968. As a result, "March of the Volunteers" became a banned song. In its place, many used "The East is Red," which was a popular Communist song at the time.

Restoration

"March of the Volunteers" was eventually restored as the Chinese national anthem in 1978, but with different lyrics that specifically praised the Communist Party and Mao Zedong.

After the death of Mao and the liberalization of the Chinese economy, Tian Han's original version was restored by the National People's Congress in 1982.

The Chinese anthem was played in Hong Kong for the first time in the 1997 handover of British control of Hong Kong to China, and in the 1999 handover of Portuguese control of Macao to China. They were subsequently adopted as the national anthems in Hong Kong and Macao.

In 2004, the Chinese constitution was officially amended to include "March of the Volunteers" as its official anthem.

Lyrics of the Chinese National Anthem

版本1

March of the Volunteers 

Arise, Ye who refuse to be slaves!

With our flesh and blood,

let's build a new Great Wall!

Chinese nation is now facing its greatest danger,

everyone is forced to let out one last cry.

Arise! Arise! Arise!

Millions of hearts together

Brave the enemies' gunfire! March on!

Brave the enemies' fire! March on!

March on! March on! On! 

版本2

March of the Volunteers 

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves; 

With our very flesh and blood 

Let us build our new Great Wall! 

The peoples of China are in the most critical time, 

Everybody must roar his defiance. 

Arise! Arise! Arise! 

Millions of hearts with one mind, 

Brave the enemy's gunfire, 

March on! Brave the enemy's gunfire, 

March on! March on! March on, on! 

版本3

March of the Volunteers 

Stand up! Those who are unwilling to become slaves!

Take our flesh, and build it to become a new Great Wall!

The Chinese people have reached a most dangerous time,

Every person is being compelled to send issue a final roar.

Arise! Arise! Arise!

We are millions with one heart,

Braving our enemy’s gunfire, march on!

Braving our enemy’s gunfire, march on!

March on! March on! Charge!