China Launches Media Campaign Retracing Long March Routes

China has launched a nationwide themed media campaign titled “Carrying Forward the Long March Spirit, Forging Ahead on the Path to Rejuvenation - Journalists Retrace the Long March Road,” marking the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Red Army’s historic Long March victory. The initiative, organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was officially launched on September 8 at the Central Red Army Long March Departure Memorial Park in Yudu County, Jiangxi Province, the historic starting point of the Long March, according to Xinhua.

Context: A Foundational Chapter in Chinese History

The Long March (1934-1936) was a military retreat undertaken by the Red Army to escape the encirclement campaigns of Nationalist forces. In October 1934, more than 86,000 soldiers of the Central Red Army departed from Yudu County, traversing approximately 12,500 kilometers over more than a year through extreme hardship. The march crossed 14 provinces and involved constant battles, with only a fraction of the original force surviving to reach northern Shaanxi.

2026 holds particular significance as it marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory, the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. As CGTN reported, the campaign aims to highlight the Long March spirit of faith, perseverance, unity and dedication, encouraging people to carry the spirit forward as China advances its development in the new era.

Campaign Scope and Coverage

The reporting route primarily follows the path taken by the First Front Army of the Red Army, while also covering routes taken by the Second Front Army, Fourth Front Army, and the 25th Army. The campaign spans 15 provincial-level regions including Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Chongqing, Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Ningxia, and Shaanxi.

Journalists will explore historical sites and resources linked to the revolutionary period, revisit the arduous journey of the Long March, and document the profound changes along the route over the past 90 years. The National Radio and Television Administration will organize nationwide broadcast and television media to coordinate coverage through an all-media report titled “Passing the Torch - Our Long March Stories,” as reported by China News Service.

This is the second major “Journalists Retrace the Long March” campaign organized by the Central Propaganda Department. The first, held in 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, involved over 1,300 journalists covering more than 16,000 kilometers and producing over 10,000 reports.

Symbolic Rail Link Connects March’s Start and End

Just days before the campaign launch, a significant infrastructure milestone underscored the transformation of the Long March route. On September 6, high-speed train G3998 departed from Ruijin Station in Jiangxi Province bound for Yan’an in Shaanxi Province, marking the first direct high-speed rail link between the starting point and final destination of the Long March. The 1,857-kilometer journey now takes approximately 11 hours, compared to the year-plus it took the Red Army on foot, as People’s Daily Online reported.

“From southern Jiangxi to northern Shaanxi, it took the Red Army more than a year back then. Today we only need a little over 11 hours,” said Xu Pan Yiru, a journalist from China Daily, according to the State Council Information Office.

The rail link symbolizes the dramatic transformation of the revolutionary old areas. Areas along the Long March route have developed red cultural tourism as a driver of economic growth. The stage play “The First Crossing of the Long March” in Yudu, which premiered in March 2023, has been performed over 700 times and attracted over 380,000 visitors. The immersive play “Farewell” at Yudu’s East Gate Ferry has been performed 903 times over five years by a volunteer troupe of over 260 members, mostly Red Army descendants, as detailed by Sichuan Daily.

Voices From the Launch

The launch ceremony featured powerful personal stories connecting the past to the present. Red Army descendant Lu Yufang, who performs in the immersive play “Farewell,” said: “Many people’s ancestors set out from here on the Long March, embracing their homeland and country, and never returned. Inheriting and promoting the Long March spirit is the responsibility and mission that Red Army descendants are born with.”

Lin Liping, a teacher at Yudu No.2 Middle School whose great-uncle departed from Yudu in 1934 and never returned, spoke of the enduring legacy: “From the gathering and departure of the 10,000-li Long March to striving forward on the new journey of the new era, the red bloodline is passed down from generation to generation,” as reported by Hunan Daily.

President Xi Jinping has emphasized the enduring relevance of the Long March spirit, stating: “No matter how far our cause develops, no matter how great our achievements, we must vigorously promote the great Long March spirit and continue to march forward bravely on the new Long March.”

Analysis: Long March Spirit in China’s Modern Context

The campaign reflects a broader effort by Chinese authorities to leverage historical memory for contemporary political and social mobilization. As China enters the opening year of its 15th Five-Year Plan, the Long March narrative serves as a powerful metaphor for the country’s development journey, framing challenges ahead as akin to the “snowy mountains” and “grasslands” that the Red Army once crossed.

Song Xueqin, a professor at Renmin University of China, articulated this connection: “We revisit that history-making great expedition in order to remember the great Long March spirit, learn from it, and promote it, gathering the mighty force for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously overcoming difficulties on the new Long March and advancing from victory to new and greater victory.”

The campaign also highlights how red cultural resources are being revitalized with modern technology. The Guizhou Long March Cultural Digital Art Museum, known as the “Red Ribbon,” combines AI virtual interaction, holographic imaging, and virtual reality technology, receiving over 190,000 visitors during the summer of 2026 alone. Sichuan Daily has also launched its own special report series “Epic Road” in conjunction with the national campaign, as Phoenix News reported.

What to Watch

As journalists fan out across the 15 provincial-level regions to retrace the historic routes, the campaign is expected to generate extensive coverage through the remainder of 2026. The combination of traditional reporting, digital media innovation, and cultural performances along the route will likely produce a sustained wave of commemorative content leading up to the October anniversary of the Long March’s conclusion.

The high-speed rail link between Ruijin and Yan’an is also expected to boost red tourism and economic development along the route, potentially transforming how Chinese citizens engage with this foundational chapter of their national history. As one young journalist preparing to depart wrote: “Today, we set out from the same place to see the great changes along this route. It is an honor to be a recorder of this history.”