The Long March spirit, rooted in steadfast faith, resilience through setbacks and putting the people first, has taken on new meaning in the new era as China strives to help other developing countries achieve common prosperity, according to a foreign expert.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March in October.
The Long March, a roughly 12,500-kilometer military odyssey undertaken by China's Red Army starting in 1934, not only preserved revolutionary forces, but also provided the Communist Party of China (CPC) with a new foothold to build the revolutionary strength and a fresh starting point for advancing toward victory.
It has since become one of the defining chapters in the CPC's history and a lasting symbol of the Long March spirit.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Michael Alan Crook, a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and president of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, recalled his family's ties to the Long March.
"When we were little, we were all fascinated by the stories our parents told. In 1936, my father went to Spain for the World Anti-Fascist War, and Edgar Snow's Red Star Over China soon reached Spain. After reading the book, my father came up with the idea of coming to China," he said.
"Red Star Over China" introduces the Chinese revolution in the 1930s to the world.
Crook recalled the origins of his interest in the history of China's Long March and his journey retracing Snow's route, noting that he and others are impressed by China's development.
"I went to elementary school in China, where the textbooks featured heroic tales from the Long March's history, such as the Red Army troops crossing snow-capped mountains and traversing grasslands, and these stories left a deep impression on me," said Crook.
"This year, 2026, marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March's victory. I have had the honor of retracing Snow's route with a group of friends, including several foreign friends. Back then, it wasn't just Edgar Snow; many other foreigners came to China motivated by different reasons such as internationalism or humanitarianism. Today, their descendants are witnessing an earth-shattering transformation in China," he said.
Crook cited Yan'an in northwest China as an example of the country's development, noting that Chinese people's living standards have improved significantly. Yan'an served as the base of the CPC leadership in about a decade from 1937 to 1947 following the Long March.
"The first time I visited Yan'an, I was around 10 years old. Back then, getting from Beijing to Xi'an meant an overnight train ride -- a journey that lasted over a dozen hours -- followed by a trip further north to reach Yan'an. Now, the trains have evolved into high-speed rail; and for the trip from Beijing to Yan'an, we can simply take planes and arrive directly in the city. Yan'an used to be a small town, but now it's full of high-rise buildings -- a reflection of the improvement in people's standard of living," he said.
Crook also highlighted the Long March spirit, observing that 90 years later China is doing much the same -- pursuing its own development while helping others achieve common prosperity.
"When we talk about the Long March spirit -- the spirit of Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army during the Long March -- what was it that they were striving for? At its heart, they were driven by a profound, all-encompassing love for others. They did not pursue happiness for themselves; rather, they fought for the well-being of the many. Looking back, the Long March itself was a truly remarkable feat. And as I reflect on the decades I have lived through, I see that what China has accomplished on the world stage is, likewise, a truly remarkable feat," said Crook.
"I believe the Long March has evolved into an international undertaking. The spirit of China's Long March must be carried forward, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Through initiatives like the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China is embarking on a new Long March -- one aimed at achieving common prosperity for developing countries. This is the new Long March," he said.
During the Long March, the Red Army crossed nearly 100 rivers, traversed vast grasslands once known as a "death trap," and climbed more than 40 mountains, including more than 20 snow-capped mountains rising above 4,000 meters.
During the grueling journey, the Central Red Army set out with 86,000 soldiers, but only about 7,000 reached the revolutionary base in northwest China, meaning roughly one in 12 survived to witness victory.
Long March spirit takes on new meaning as China strives to help other countries: foreign expert
