"Nanniwan" is a revolutionary song written in 1943 with lyrics by communist playwright and poet He Jingzhi and music by Ma Ke.

Cui Jian was invited to perform for an annual official TV gala in 1987 where he sang a version of the song that was distinctly different.

His version removed the final stanza that hails the achievements of the 359th Brigade, changing the tone of the song to sound more like a lament.

花篮的花儿香 听我来唱一唱 唱一唱 来到了南泥湾 南泥湾好地方 好地呀方 好地方来好风光 好地方来好风光 到处是庄稼 遍地是牛羊 往年的南泥湾 处处是荒山 没呀人烟 如今的南泥湾 与往年不一般 不呀一般 如呀今的南泥湾 与呀往年不一般 再不是旧模样 是陕北的好江南 陕北的好江南 鲜花开满山 开呀满山 学习那南泥湾 处处是江南 是呀江南 又站岗来又生产 三五九旅是模范 咱们走向前 鲜花送模范 花籃的花兒香 聽我來唱一唱 唱一呀唱 來到了南泥灣 南泥灣好地方 好地呀方 好地方來好風光 好地方來好風光 到處是莊稼 遍地是牛羊 往年的南泥灣 處處是荒山 沒呀人煙 如今的南泥灣 與往年不一般 不一呀般 如呀今的南泥灣 與呀往年不一般 再不是舊模樣 是陝北的好江南

Wǎngnián de nán ní wān Chùchù shì huāngshān Méi ya rén yān Rújīn de nán ní wān Yǔ wǎngnián bù yībān Bù yī ya bān Rú ya jīn de nán ní wān Yǔ ya wǎngnián bù yībān Zài bu shì jiù múyàng Shì shǎnběi de hǎo jiāngnán Shǎnběi de hǎo jiāngnán Xiānhuā kāi mǎn shān Kāi ya mǎn shān Xuéxí nà nán ní wān Chùchù shì jiāngnán Shì ya jiāngnán Yòu xuéxí lái yòu shēngchǎn Sānwǔjiǔ lǚ shì mófàn Zánmen zǒuxiàng qián Xiānhuā sòng mófàn Flowers in a basket are fragrant Listen to me sing a little Sing for a little Come to Nanniwan Nanniwan is a nice place Nice place Nice place and beautiful scenery Nice place and beautiful scenery Crops everywhere Cattle and sheep all around Nanniwan in years gone by Was a barren mountain With no people around Nanniwan today Is different from the past Nanniwan today Is different from the past And no longer looks like it did It is the Jiangnan* of Northern Shaanxi The Jiangnan of Northern Shaanxi Mountains full of flowers Mountains blossoming Know that in Nanniwan Everywhere is like Jiangnan Yes, like Jiangnan Learning again how to cultivate The 359th Brigade sets the example Let us go forward Let the example blossom * This lyric, referring to Nanniwan as "Jiangnan", implies it is as prosperous as the extremely fertile area immediately south of the Yangtze.