On May 4th, China’s Youth Day, a group of young soldiers from the People’s Armed Police (PAP) Zunyi Detachment swapped their tactical duties for the role of historical guides. At the Zunyi Meeting site in Guizhou province, these six recruits engaged domestic tourists with vivid accounts of the Long March. This initiative signals a deliberate shift in how Beijing seeks to weave its revolutionary legacy into the fabric of modern national identity.
The choice of Zunyi as the backdrop for this outreach is highly symbolic. As the location where Mao Zedong first solidified his leadership within the Communist Party in 1935, it is regarded as the “great turning point” in the Party’s survival. By placing active-duty soldiers at the center of this narrative, the state is reinforcing the historical link between the military’s modern role and its foundational struggles.
This deployment of “Red Commentators” reflects a broader trend in China to revitalize “Red Tourism” through experiential education. Rather than relying on static exhibits, the PAP's involvement transforms historical events like the “Four Crossings of the Chishui River” into living testimonies. This approach aims to bridge the generational gap, making the hardships of the past feel urgent and relevant to a modern audience more accustomed to economic prosperity.
For the soldiers themselves, the exercise functions as a dual-purpose tool for public relations and internal indoctrination. By narrating these stories, the soldiers undergo a process of “heart-cleansing,” deepening their own ideological commitment while presenting a friendly, disciplined face to the public. As the Party emphasizes the need to pass on “Red Genes,” these young servicemen act as the primary conduits for ensuring the loyalty of the next generation.