To Wang Licheng, a Gen-Z contestant at the China Daily "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition, it is "inexpressibly gentle, with the combination of intelligence and sympathy". In an impromptu speech on Oct 4 he quoted Chinese scholar Gu Hongming from the TV drama The Age of Awakening, which tells the history of the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921 and has become a big hit among young people in China.

In his inspiring speech, Wang further talked about his understanding of " once-in-a-century change", which is not COVID-19, economic crisis or environmental crises. "We are the change, China is the change."

The China Daily "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition was held at the Business & Innovation Centre for China-Europe Cooperation in Chengdu, Sichuan province from Oct 4 to 6.