A German photographer has described the Long March as unique in world history, highlighting that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Red Army achieved victory and enduring success because they always stayed closely connected with the people.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory by the Red Army under the leadership of the CPC. This arduous trek from 1934 to 1936 helped lay the foundation for the eventual victory of the Chinese revolution.
In a recent interview with China Radio International (CRI), Kosima Weber Liu, a German photographer who has lived in China for many years and visited old revolutionary base areas in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, shared her deep reflections on this extraordinary chapter of history based on her personal experiences.
The photographer observed that the Red Army and the CPC were always with the people and worked alongside them. She said that this left the deepest impression on her and explained that she believes it is one of the key reasons why the CPC has been so successful.
She also pointed out that the Long March represents not only a feat, but also a vital chapter that deeply transformed China's societal and historical landscape.
"The history of the Long March is the history of the people and society of that era. There is nothing like China's Long March anywhere else in the world — nothing so vast, so grueling, or so capable of profoundly shaping a nation's historical trajectory. Time flies, but to understand China today, one must gain a deeper understanding of the CPC's history," she said.
Commenting on China's ongoing development, Liu expressed deep admiration for its approach of prioritizing social welfare and ecological conservation, as well as its efforts to promote global exchange and mutual understanding.
"Why has China been so successful? One reason, of course, is placing society and its people first, and I am also deeply moved that ecological protection is prioritized as well. China excels in advocating global exchange and mutual understanding, which is something truly commendable," Liu said.
During her visits to revolutionary base areas in China, following in the footsteps of American journalist Edgar Snow, she gained an even deeper appreciation for this extraordinary legacy.
In 1936, 31-year-old Snow broke through numerous blockades and ventured deep into China's impoverished northwest, becoming the first Western journalist to report on the Red Army in its base areas.
Four months of on-the-ground interviews produced "Red Star Over China," introducing the CPC to the world and giving global readers their first systematic account of the Long March.
The cover of "Red Star Over China" features a photograph taken by Snow in 1936, depicting a young Chinese Red Army bugler in Yuwang Town, Tongxin County, Ningxia.
"Of course, Yan'an in Shaanxi left the deepest impression on me, because everyone knows this place and knows Baota Hill, and knows the people who used to come here. Many foreigners also went there. Yan'an is certainly a particularly important place. But I think that this time, going to the place where Edgar Snow took photographs was, for me, the most memorable experience. The Long March is a truly unique chapter of history that I have never seen anywhere else in the world — it exists nowhere else but in China," she said.
This year also marks 90 years since Snow's first visit to the CPC's Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia revolutionary base, a trip that inspired his renowned work.
German photographer hails Long March as unique chapter in world history
German photographer hails Long March as unique chapter in world history
