A cross-border tour covering Erenhot in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Zamyn-Uud in Mongolia officially opened Saturday, with the first 108 tourists embarking on the single-day trip.
Streamlined entry procedures are allowing participants to join tour groups with only their identity cards, without applying for passports or visas in advance.
Licensed travel agencies handle all procedures, including submitting tour group lists, screening traveler information and issuing travel permits through multi-system parallel approval.
The itinerary links distinctive cultural and tourism resources on both sides of the border.
In Erenhot, known as China's "Dinosaur City," tourists see sites related to dinosaur fossil excavation, and at the border, they marvel at the city's national gate scenic area.
In Mongolia, they experience border-town scenery and duty-free shopping before returning to experience the lively atmosphere of Erenhot's night market.
"Everything went smoothly, and I'm very happy. I want to learn about the local scenery there as I am looking forward to it. I want to take beautiful photos with my sister, and I want to see the cattle and horses and the grasslands there," said tourist Dou Zhiyan.
Leveraging policy advantages of its pilot free trade zone, Erenhot has been diversifying cross-border tourism offerings, driving coordinated growth in cross-border trade, accommodation, catering and transportation while creating more opportunities for residents to increase their incomes.
"This China-Mongolia cross-border tourism route is a convenient and beneficial cultural and tourism product that we have launched by leveraging the integrated reform of border areas. Next, we will further enrich our city's tourism offerings, continue to develop and improve distinctive resources such as our dinosaur geological park and dinosaur museum, attract Mongolian tourists to our city for study tours, wellness tours, self-driving tours as well as trade tours, and promote the deep integration of trade, tourism and cultural development along the China-Mongolia border," said Han Lizhi, deputy head of Erenhot's tourism bureau.
China-Mongolia cross-border tour opens between Erenhot, Zamyn-Uud
The spirit of the Long March has been passed down to young generations over the past 90 years, inspiring people to keep their faith, brave setback and put the people first.
The Long March was carried out by the Red Army, which was led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), and mainly made up of soldiers from peasants' and workers' families during the Chinese revolution.
Ninety-two years ago, the Red Army crossed the mountains and rivers of southwest China's Guizhou Province in search of a way forward.
Between 1934 and 1936, the army trekked up to 12,500 kilometers to break through the Kuomintang Party siege, a journey later known as the Long March.
The year 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory.
Today, a young generation has grown up, carrying forward the spirit of the Long March.
Dong embroidery heritage bearer Lu Yongjiang has undergone five corrective hand surgeries but continues to preserve the traditional craft.
"This was made by my mother, and I've kept it ever since. I think this craft is truly beautiful. I wanted to make it my lifelong career. I've had five corrective surgeries on my hand. When I was learning embroidery, everyone had already written me off. They thought I would never be able to learn it. I couldn't pull the thread with this hand, so I used my teeth to hold it. Then I used my other hand to help pull it through. As long as I can still stand, I won't give up on this craft," Lu said.
"A single embroidery needle may be small, but thousands of needles can stitch a magnificent landscape. When I think about the work I'm doing today, I'm not afraid. I may have a disability, but compared with the hardships the Red Army soldiers went through, I feel very fortunate today," she continued.
Dong-language guide Lu Xianying tells the history of the Long March through Dong songs.
"In Dong communities, many older people don't understand Mandarin. So when I explain this history, I have created several Dong songs based on the history of the Long March. We should approach the history of the Long March with respect. When we tell its story, we have to base it on facts and not distort or alter it. What I most want to do is to bring red culture and Dong culture together, so that both can be passed on," said Lu Xianying, a Dong-language guide of Liping Meeting Memorial Hall.
Zhou Wei, a guide at the Houchang Meeting Memorial Hall, puts it another way.
"I left teaching to become a guide telling the history of the Long March. After learning about this history, I was deeply moved and inspired by the journey of the Red Army. The Red Army soldiers ate tree bark and grass roots back then, so that future generations would never have to do the same. Every generation has its own Long March, and every generation has its own path to walk," said Zhou Wei, deputy director of Houchang Meeting Memorial Hall.
Other young people are working at the grassroots and dealing with challenges of their own. Ninety years later, the mountains and rivers remain, but every generation has its own path to walk.
"More than 90 years ago, when the Red Army crossed the Wujiang River, the current was extremely fast. At the time, the Red Army crossed the river at night to avoid enemy pursuit. They used what was known as the 'Red Army water horse,' which was a type of bamboo raft used to cross the river. This story is known as the 'Red Army water horse'. We tell this story to everyone who comes here to learn about the history," said Wang Yinyin, an official of Jiangjiehe Town Government.
"It was really a matter of chance that I joined the Western China Volunteer Program and was assigned to Jiangjiehe, a village known for the Red Army's crossing of the Wujiang River. I mainly work on rural revitalization, shooting videos and editing social media posts to share stories from Jiangjiehe," said Yu Yaojia, a volunteer of the 2026 Western China Volunteer Program.
"I think the biggest mountain I have to cross is gaining experience at the grassroots level, then using it to better serve people on a bigger platform," said Tian Yintan, an official of Jiangjiehe Town Government.
Long March spirit passes down to young generations
