As the 90th anniversary of the Long March’s conclusion nears in 2026, the Chinese government is intensifying efforts to internationalize its foundational revolutionary myths. Under the 'Walking the Long March Road' project, the China International Communications Group (CICG) recently led a delegation of foreign experts, ASEAN youth representatives, and scholars to the rugged terrain of northern Guangxi. The tour focused on the site of the Xiangjiang Battle, a 1934 conflict that remains one of the bloodiest and most pivotal chapters in the Communist Party’s history.
By trading digital storytelling for physical 'immersion,' the state aims to bridge cultural gaps and frame the 'Long March Spirit' as a universal symbol of resilience. Foreign participants, including Dutch sinologist Elsbeth van Paridon and British editor David Ferguson, provided the necessary external validation. Their testimonials, emphasizing the 'indomitable character' required to overcome adversity, serve to translate a deeply nationalistic narrative into a vocabulary of global struggle and human endurance.
The initiative also highlights a strategic shift in how 'Red Tourism' is utilized domestically. In Quanzhou and Xing’an, the sites of former carnage have been transformed into landmarks of rural revitalization. The narrative arc presented to the international delegation purposefully connects the 'desperate breakthrough' of the 1930s to the modern 'assault on poverty,' where traditional agricultural regions now boast high-tech, selenium-rich rice noodle supply chains.
Ultimately, these curated journeys are designed to prove that the Party’s 'original heart'—its foundational mission—remains intact despite decades of economic transformation. By showcasing the prosperity of these 'Old Revolutionary Areas,' Beijing seeks to demonstrate that the sacrifices of the past have reached a logical, successful conclusion. The Long March is no longer presented merely as a military retreat, but as the enduring spiritual engine driving China’s modern industrial and social ambitions.