China Marks 90 Years Since Long March End With Shows, Tours

China’s ruling Communist Party has begun commemorative activities ahead of the October 22 anniversary of the end of the Long March, using exhibitions, tours, film and television productions to promote the history of the trek and revive its “spirit”.

The activities mark 90 years since the end of the Long March, a historic episode the party is presenting as part of an effort to mobilise the nation to contribute to its vision for the future.

Commemorations ahead of October 22

The party has rolled out a series of commemorative activities centred on the Long March, including shows, tours and screen productions.

The events are under way ahead of the October 22 anniversary and are focused on promoting the history of the Long March.

They also seek to revive the Long March “spirit”, according to the source description of the party’s commemorative push.

The route and its place in party history

The Long March was an epic retreat between 1934 and 1936 by the party’s Red Army during the civil war.

The Red Army undertook the retreat to evade Kuomintang, or Nationalist, forces.

Red Army troops left from Ruijin and Gucheng, in the central province of Jiangxi.

They covered a distance of around 10,000km (6,200 miles) before arriving in Yanan, a remote part of Shaanxi province in the northwest.

In Yanan, the troops set up a new headquarters.

The commemorations therefore link present-day political messaging with a trek that the ruling Communist Party continues to promote as a defining part of its history.

Source: South China Morning Post