Long March 90th Anniversary Exhibition Opens in Beijing

A major exhibition commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March victory opened at the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution in Beijing on 22 September, drawing senior Communist Party figures and about 600 attendees, according to Xinhua.

Titled “The Great Long March,” the exhibition presents more than 1,000 relics and documents across seven thematic sections, with hundreds of artifacts going on public display for the first time. It opens to the general public on 25 September and is installed as a permanent exhibition.

A Ceremony of Commemoration

The opening ceremony began at 10 a.m. with the PLA Military Band performing the national anthem, followed by a moment of silence for the martyrs who died during the Long March. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat, delivered the keynote address and declared the exhibition open.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cai said the Long March — led by the Communist Party of China 90 years ago — saw the Red Army overcome “countless hardships” and make “huge sacrifices” to complete a retreat that “shook the world.” He described its victory as a “great turning point” for the Party and the Chinese revolution, and as “a towering monument in the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

Cai framed the exhibition as a platform for ideals, patriotism, and revolutionary-tradition education, saying its purpose was to guide cadres and the public to understand that “the red political power, New China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics were not easily won,” and to “walk the Long March road of the new era.”

Also in attendance were Yin Li, Li Shulei, Zhang Shengmin, Losang Jamcan, and Wang Yong, alongside officials from central Party, government, and military departments, PLA troops stationed in Beijing, and representatives of the capital’s various sectors.

Artifacts and Immersive Displays

According to The Beijing News, the exhibition occupies roughly 3,300 square meters on the west side of the Military Museum’s third floor. It displays 357 photographs and charts, 875 relics, 186 documents, 73 works of art, and 16 videos — with more than 300 items shown publicly for the first time, accounting for about 28 percent of the total.

The exhibition is organized into seven sections tracing the Long March from its “strategic transfer” through the pivotal Zunyi Conference, the breaking of enemy blockades, and the role of revolutionary ideals, to the awakening of the people and the eventual “rebirth” of the Chinese revolution.

Among the exhibits are a half-eaten leather belt that soldier Xiao Chaozhong survived on during the grassland crossing, the identification document for the remains of martyr Fang Zhimin, the blue single-layer clothing worn while crossing snow mountains, and the fishing line used by He Long during the grassland crossing. Fourteen key scene reconstructions bring the events to life, including the Battle of the Xiang River, the Zunyi Conference, the Four Crossings of the Chishui River, and the Flying Capture of Luding Bridge.

Interactive features include a “Frozen Memory” installation that lets visitors feel the extreme cold for five seconds, an “I Want to Join the Red Army” scene where young visitors can measure themselves against a 1.5-meter recruitment line, and games on selecting equipment for crossing snow mountains and identifying edible wild vegetables.

A National Commemorative Campaign

The Beijing exhibition is the centerpiece of a nationally coordinated program marking the 90th anniversary. In April, China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage issued a notice soliciting Long March-themed exhibitions from provinces across the country, requiring them to open before the end of 2026 and to undergo strict political and historical vetting.

Related exhibitions have opened or are opening nationwide, including a Long March art exhibition at the National Museum of China and displays in Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and elsewhere. The commemorations also intersect with the broader Long March National Cultural Park project and with the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in 2026.

The Long March (1934–1936) was a military retreat by the Chinese Red Army to evade Kuomintang pursuit. It began in October 1934 and ended in October 1936, when the First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies joined forces in Gansu. It remains a foundational event in the founding narrative of the People’s Republic and a symbol of endurance and sacrifice.

What to Watch

Beyond the exhibition, the Military Museum plans to organize Long March-themed civics classes, expert lectures, and staged performances, and to launch a panoramic online digital gallery. Visitors can reserve entry through the museum’s WeChat service account.

As the commemorative year unfolds, the official framing is likely to place growing emphasis on the “new Long March” — linking the historical retreat to contemporary goals of Chinese-style modernization and national rejuvenation. The exhibition’s permanent status ensures the story it tells will remain on display well beyond the anniversary itself.