The large-scale historical and cultural documentary series 'Zuo Zongtang's Recovery of Xinjiang' was broadcast in August on multiple channels including Hunan Satellite TV. Beijing used this opportunity to assert China's sovereignty over Xinjiang and to foster a sense of national identity among the people. The documentary was produced by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Provincial Committee of Hunan, the Publicity Department of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Committee, the Publicity Department of the Gansu Provincial Committee, and the Hunan Broadcasting and Television Group, and was guided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the National Radio and Television Administration. The documentary focuses on Zuo Zongtang's recovery of Xinjiang's territory that had been occupied by foreign forces, emphasizing the spirit of 'not an inch of our land can be given up.' Scholar Mei Xinyu pointed out that the broadcast of the documentary has practical significance. First, it asserts China's sovereignty over Xinjiang in the face of the East Turkestan separatist forces. Second, it corrects misconceptions in historical perspectives and fosters a sense of national identity with China in Xinjiang and beyond. In March 2021, President Xi Jinping of China visited the Zuo Zongtang Cultural Memorial Hall during his inspection in Fuzhou, which sparked a surge of interest in Zuo Zongtang. In March 2023, several representatives and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) proposed measures to promote Zuo Zongtang's spirit of patriotism. Among them, Mao Wanchun, chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, proposed the production of a film based on Zuo Zongtang's story, which was designated as a key proposal of the National CPPCC.