In 1926; Young Companion Pictorial (Liang You; literally 'good friend') was established in Shanghai as the first colored variety magazine. During the 1920s and 30s; when printed news was rare and precious; Companion was already a pioneer in providing pictorial reports to the public. It quickly became the publication that chronicled and provoked China's passion for decades to come.

Throughout the epic of war and peace; readers could see and read from Companion the faces and thoughts of influential politicians such as Sun Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen); Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek); Feng Yuxiang; Zhang Xueliang; Mao Zedong; Zhu De and Zhou Enlai. Influential thinkers and writers such as Lu Xun; Lao She; Yu Dafu and Lin Yutang all contributed their works to Companion.

In addition; Companion published a series of autobiographies; written exclusively for its readers by the celebrities themselves. They inspired many Chinese not only with their successful stories but also their wisdom and attitudes towards life.