This year, 2026, marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March.
Today, on the long march of the new era, Chinese women are holding high the torch, passed to them by their predecessors, and they are shining brightly on the stage of the times.
Women of China shares several stories about Chinese women, who have strived for excellence in their work, and who have carried forward the spirit of the Long March. Through their concrete actions, they have forged ahead on their own long march.
This article tells the story of Deng Cairun, deputy general manager of Liupanshan Red Army Long March Scenic Area, in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Comrade Mao Zedong (1893-1976) led the Central Red Army across Liupan Mountain, situated in Guyuan, a city in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in October 1935. It was the last high mountain the Central Red Army crossed during the Long March. Thus, Liupan Mountain has been imbued with the historical significance of being the "Mountain of Victory." Mao immortalized the mountain in his majestic poem, Qing Ping Yue: Liupan Mountain.
During the past two decades, Deng Cairun, deputy general manager of Liupanshan Red Army Long March Scenic Area, has devoted herself to keeping the spirit of the Long March alive at Liupanshan Red Army Long March Memorial Hall. Through her storytelling, she helps visitors connect with the spirit of the Long March.
As a docent, Deng blends poetry recitation and folk song performances into her services. She even sets Qing Ping Yue: Liupan Mountain to the melody of Hua'er, a local folk song. As she tailors her storytelling to audiences, of varying ages and backgrounds, she turns history into a language that resonates with a wide range of listeners.
Deng and her colleagues frequently travel to villages, across the Liupan Mountain area, to gather historical accounts of the Long March. Years ago, they interviewed an elderly man, whose story left a deep impression on them. He recalled how the Red Army soldiers endured hunger and thirst rather than take even a grain of food from the villagers. The soldiers even gave their last medicinal herbs to sick villagers.
"What moved me most, was the elderly man's accounts of how the small acts convinced the locals the Red Army was fighting for the people," says Deng. "I realized what truly resonates is often small moments between ordinary soldiers and people."
In recent years, Deng and her team have highlighted the perseverance and sense of responsibility of the ordinary soldiers, bringing the spirit of the Long March to life for visitors.
"Today, visitors, especially young people, are no longer satisfied with just hearing historical stories," says Deng. "They want to draw strength from the spirit of the Long March, and use that strength in their lives. So, we combine these values with everyday life, through vivid stories."
In the scenic area, visitors can walk along a 2.5-kilometer "Red Army path," where 18 key scenes of the Long March are brought to life. This allows the visitors to trace the history of the Long March, and then better understand the spirit of the Long March.
Understanding teenagers prefer immersive, interactive experiences, Deng and her team developed an immersive course, "Revisiting the Red Army Path." Children play the role of "little Red Army soldiers," completing tasks — such as delivering messages and carrying supplies — at checkpoints along the path. They also experience the hardships the Red Army faced. Many of the children have told Deng completing the tasks allowed them to finally understand what it means to "fear no hardship." Deng and her colleagues now plan to expand the revolutionary-themed courses to different age groups, making "red education" more accessible and effective.
Deng and her team have also delivered lectures at schools, military units and government offices, tailoring their approach to each audience. For children, they bring the spirit of the Long March to life through vivid stories. For university students, they combine historical research and thematic discussions, encouraging young people to reflect on their responsibilities in the new era. For officials and Party members, they connect the spirit with rural revitalization and grassroots governance. For elderly people, they draw on local dialects and folk songs to evoke memories and strike a chord.
"My greatest hope is that more people will see Liupan Mountain not just as a mountain the Red Army crossed, but as a source of spiritual strength for people today," says Deng.
Her goal is clear: To tell Liupan Mountain's revolutionary stories more deeply, vividly and thoroughly. She will keep collecting lesser-known accounts of the Long March, enrich her guided tours with new storytelling methods, and connect the spirit of the Long March to Guyuan's current development, and to modern people's lives.
"My own long march has been about safeguarding the revolutionary heritage and upholding the spirit of the Long March," Deng says. "I will keep serving as a guardian, inheritor and promoter of Liupan Mountain's revolutionary culture, rooting myself here, and bringing the spirit to a wider audience."
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly October 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
