Long March history marks 90 years of revolutionary significance

As the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March approaches, historical analyses emphasize the event's role in shaping the revolutionary spirit and the development of the Communist Party of China.

The Long March began in 1934 as a strategic retreat from the Kuomintang's fifth encirclement campaign. Key milestones included the bloody Battle of Xiang River, the pivotal Zunyi Conference in 1935—which corrected military errors and established Mao Zedong's leadership—and the crossing of the Jinsha River and Luding Bridge.

Historians note that the march concluded in 1936 with the successful unification of the three main Red Army forces in northern China. This movement shifted the revolutionary center from southeast to northwest, creating a new strategic base in Shaanxi. The era is cited as a period that forged the core values of the Chinese revolution, including steadfast belief, perseverance through extreme hardship, and the principle of independent decision-making.