In a special series on the Long March, locals in southwest China's Sichuan Province describe how the historic campaign brought hope and confidence to the Chinese people and helped promote national unity.
China is marking 90 years of the victory of the Long March, a crucial turning point in Chinese history which contributed to the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In the series Marching On, China Global Television (CGTN) correspondents retrace the Long March route nationwide, unpacking the enduring legacy of its spirit in contemporary China.
In the second episode of the series, a correspondent picked up the trail in Sichuan, from snow-covered mountains to local morning markets, to find out what the spirit means to everyday Chinese people.
Long March is a 1934-1936 military maneuver that helped lay the foundation for the eventual victory of the Communist Party of China.
Red Army soldiers braved raging rivers, snow-covered mountains and vast grasslands, with some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers -- a trek later described by American journalist Harrison Salisbury as "a great human epic".
From bonds to beyond: retracing Long March spirit in Sichuan Province
From bonds to beyond: retracing Long March spirit in Sichuan Province
In a special series on the Long March, a landmark event in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Huajiang Gorge Bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province, the world's highest bridge, has demonstrated how the Long March spirit lives on.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March, a crucial turning point in Chinese history which contributed to the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In the special series Marching On, China Global Television (CGTN) correspondents retrace the original route of the Long March across several provinces to find out that the Long March's enduring spirit—marked by determination and resilience—continues to inspire generations of Chinese people as they pursue better lives through innovation and hard work.
In the first episode of the series, a CGTN correspondent kicks off the journey across rugged hills and river‑carved valleys in Guizhou Province, a key region along the Long March route. He stands in awe atop the Huajiang Gorge Bridge, completed in 2025 by local engineers and workers. With a deck soaring 625 meters above the river, the bridge is a testament to the enduring spirit of overcoming adversity.
The remarkable transformation of mountainous Guizhou—with a nearly twelvefold increase in per capita GDP over the past two decades—reflects the enduring legacy of the Long March spirit, which remains evident in all aspects of contemporary Chinese life.
The Red Army soldiers, forerunners of today's People's Liberation Army, began their strategic retreat in 1934. They endured raging rivers, snow-capped mountains, and vast grasslands—some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers—before finally reaching Yan'an in Shaanxi Province in 1936, where they established the CPC headquarters before the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.
From barriers to bridges: unpacking Long March legacy in Guizhou
