Chinese cameraman shares personal connection to National Day
Chinese cameraman Ma Guoqing has a special personal connection to China's National Day. Born on October 1, 1986, he was given the name “Guoqing,” meaning National Day, by his grandfather, who had served in the military.
For decades, some Chinese families have chosen the name Guoqing for children born around the holiday as a tribute to the founding of the People's Republic of China.
That connection took on special meaning for Ma in 2019, when he worked on the live broadcast of the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the PRC at Tiananmen Square.
Ma said he had hoped to take part in the country's 50th-anniversary celebrations as a schoolboy but missed the event after breaking his arm. Years later, he found himself filming the 70th-anniversary parade, including one of the first sweeping crane shots over the formation toward Tiananmen.
Over the course of his career, Ma has covered not only National Day events but also major international sporting occasions. He says the evolution of his equipment reflects broader technological change, from Beta and DVCAM systems to today's more versatile digital cameras.
According to CCTV+, Ma Guoqing's story presents National Day not only as a national celebration, but also as part of the personal lives of people who have spent years documenting China's major moments.
