‘Echo’ Documentary Spotlights Priceless Donations
The China Federation of Literary and Art Circles released the fourth episode of the second season of its micro-documentary series “Echo” on August 3, 2026, spotlighting the National Art Museum of China and the profound meaning of donations to its collection. Titled “Running the Museum for the People,” the episode tells the stories of selfless donors whose gifts have enriched the nation’s cultural heritage, as reported by Xinhua News.
A Documentary Built on Presidential Letters
The “Echo” series is structured around President Xi Jinping’s reply letters to literary and art workers and cultural institutions across China. The second season, which launched online on July 10, consists of 12 episodes covering film, fine arts, traditional opera, music, and other artistic fields, according to Xinhua’s report on the season launch.
The fourth episode centers on the National Art Museum of China, which opened on May 23, 1963, and has maintained a “people-oriented” philosophy for over six decades. Its guiding principle—“collecting for the nation, running the museum for the people”—frames the documentary’s narrative of generosity and cultural stewardship.
The episode draws inspiration from Xi’s reply letter of May 21, 2023, to veteran experts and artists at the museum, marking its 60th anniversary. In the letter, Xi urged the museum to “work on high-quality collection, high-level utilization, and high-quality service” to build a national and world-class art hall for the people, as published in full by Qiushi.
Three Stories of Selfless Giving
The documentary weaves together three remarkable donation stories spanning more than half a century.
Deng Tuo’s Historic Gift (1964)
In 1964, historian and intellectual Deng Tuo wrote the motto “You love civilization, not treasures; born as master of things, not their slave” and donated his entire collection of 145 ancient Chinese paintings to the state. The collection, which filled critical gaps in the museum’s holdings of Song, Yuan, and Ming-Qing period works, included Su Shi’s “Xiaoxiang Bamboo and Stone”—the oldest painting in the museum’s collection, as noted by China News. The Ministry of Culture has documented how these works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions since the donation, celebrating Deng’s legacy of cultural stewardship.
The Lao She Family’s Unconditional Gift (2015)
On February 2, 2015, the 116th anniversary of writer Lao She’s birth, his four children—Shu Ji, Shu Yi, Shu Yu, and Shu Li—donated the family’s collection of paintings to the museum. When museum staff asked if there were any conditions, Shu Yi simply waved his hand and laughed, declining any requests. As one museum staff member recalled in the documentary: “I asked if there were any requirements from the family. Mr. Shu Yi laughed heartily at me and waved his hand. The moment I turned around, tears streamed down my face.” The donation included works by Zhao Zhiqian, Qi Baishi, Fu Baoshi, and Lin Fengmian, among other masters, as documented by People’s Daily.
Jiang Zhaohe’s “Refugees” (1998)
In 1942, while in Japanese-occupied Beijing, painter Jiang Zhaohe created the monumental scroll painting “Refugees,” depicting the suffering of civilians during wartime. The work, originally 2 meters high and 27 meters wide, survived war and upheaval but only half of the scroll remained. In 1998, Jiang’s widow, Xiao Qiong, donated the surviving half to the museum, where it became one of the institution’s most treasured pieces—a testament to the endurance of both the artwork and the national memory it preserves.
A Cultural Phenomenon
The “Echo” series has resonated deeply with audiences. The first season, launched in October 2025, achieved over 10 million views per episode, with total viewership exceeding 130 million. The second season took half a year to produce, with the production team visiting eight provinces and cities—including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Jilin—and conducting face-to-face interviews with more than 100 literary and art workers.
What’s Next
The fourth episode’s focus on the National Art Museum of China underscores a broader cultural narrative: that the true value of donated artworks lies not in their monetary worth but in the spirit of giving and the cultural heritage they represent. As the documentary’s title suggests, “It’s a donation, so it’s priceless.” Future episodes of the second season will continue to explore how literary and art workers across China are responding to Xi’s reply letters, offering audiences a window into the country’s evolving cultural landscape.