In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "carry forward the long line of inspiring principles for the Chinese Communists that originated with the great founding spirit of the Party; put resources related to the Party's heritage to great use; conduct extensive public awareness activities to promote the core socialist values; enhance commitment to patriotism, collectivism and socialism; and foster a new generation of young people to shoulder the mission of realizing national rejuvenation."

In 2021, the first batch of the CPC's spiritual pedigree, 46 spirits in all forged during the Party's century-old endeavor, was officially released, including the Zhang Side Spirit.

The statue of Zhang Side at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Answering CPC's Call

Zhang Side (1915–1944) was born into a poor peasant family in Yilong County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Forced by poverty, his father had to work out of the town to make a living, and his mother passed away from illness when the boy was very young. Zhang Side grew up relying on the goodwill of neighbors, eating food they provided and wearing clothes they gave him. To remind him of this kindness, his foster mother named him "Side," literarily meaning to never forget the generosity of others.