September 3 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Amid global reflections, a little-known story resurfaces — Ernest Hemingway's 1941 journey to China.
The American writer, already celebrated for For Whom the Bell Tolls, arrived in Shaoguan with his third wife, journalist Martha Gellhorn. At the time, the southern Chinese city was a major frontline against the Japanese aggression.
Shaoguan was a key chapter in South China's resistance against Japanese aggression and is remembered for its dignity and sacrifice.
Their later reports and writings described not only China's suffering but also its endurance.
To remember the details of this forgotten journey of Hemingway, we talked to local librarian Miao Yi, who has spent years uncovering this overlooked history, tracing Hemingway's nine days in Shaoguan.
We also managed to reach Nancy W. Sindelar, author of Influencing Hemingway: The People and Places That Shaped His Life and Work.
She told us that the trip was very important in Hemingway's life. “He was fascinated with how people show courage in the face of death.”
How did the couple spend their days in Shaoguan? And how did this journey shape Hemingway's writing and worldview? Eight decades on, these questions invite us to revisit a city, a resistance war, and a writer forever marked by resilience.
Reporter: Xie Hongzhou
Voiceover: Xie Hongzhou
Cameraman: Qin Shaolong
Video: Qin Shaolong
Poster: Cai Junru
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
