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The "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey" CICG International Communication Project officially launched on June 15 in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, kicking off a series of activities retracing the historic Long March of 1934-36.
Guests jointly launch the "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey" CICG International Communication Project in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG); Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of CICG; Xiong Kongjun, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and director of the Provincial Government Information Office; Chen Jianping, director of the Training Center, secretary-general of the New Media Committee, and director of the Communication Center at the All-China Journalists Association; Soldat Tatjana, director of the Serbian Cultural Center in Beijing; Xu Rong, director of China Internet Information Center; Yan Dong, inaugural distinguished research fellow of the China Media Group Institute and vice president of the Documentary Academic Committee of China Television Artists Association; David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of Foreign Languages Press of CICG and recipient of the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award; Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager of Springfield Urban League; and Elsbeth van Paridon, sinologist and foreign expert at the Center for the Americas of CICG, together with other Chinese and international guests, witnessed the launch of the project.
Speaking at the event, Yu Yunquan said the project aims to help international audiences better understand the founding ideals and mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the values that have sustained the Chinese people through decades of struggle and development. He described the initiative as a "contemporary version of 'Red Star Over China'" — a collaborative Chinese and international production designed for global audiences. The project, he said, will continue to expand in scope and content, ultimately building a "Forever Long March" platform that links history with the future and fosters greater understanding between China and the world.
Calling the initiative a "journey of reflection and fresh discovery," Yu said it would revisit the history of the Long March while documenting the progress of Chinese modernization and national development along the route today. "We have invited international participants from different countries and cultural backgrounds, including journalists and young people, to walk this historic route themselves," he said. "Through their own observations and experiences, they will record and interpret what they see along the way."
Participants attend the launch of the "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey" CICG International Communication Project in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
Yudu county holds a special place in the history of the Long March as the departure point of the Central Red Army in 1934. Nine decades on, it once again serves as the starting point for a journey inspired by that history. The project is being held under the auspices of CICG and jointly organized by China Internet Information Center.
The project will feature a main team supported by smaller field teams traveling along the route taken by the Red Army. Guided by the enduring values of the Long March, the project seeks to tell the story of both the historic journey and contemporary China from an international perspective. Through multilingual and multimedia storytelling, it will highlight the legacy of the Long March while showcasing China's development in the new era.
Soldat Tatjana, director of the Serbian Cultural Center in Beijing, during an interview at the launch of the "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey" CICG International Communication Project in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
Running from mid-June to late July, the project will cover six key regions — Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi — while also connecting with Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Yunnan and other provinces associated with the Long March route.
Xiong Kongjun said the project connects historical reflection with contemporary observation through on-the-ground engagement, and promotes exchanges between China and the world. He noted that Jiangxi, as the departure point of the Long March, has long worked to preserve its revolutionary heritage and develop red cultural resources. In recent years, the province has advanced poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, red tourism, industrial development, environmental protection and livelihood improvement, and has been transformed into a modern region with growing industries, better ecology and improved living standards, reflecting the enduring relevance of the Long March spirit.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the completion of the Long March, one of the defining events in modern Chinese history. Covering approximately 12,500 kilometers, the Red Army crossed some of China's most challenging terrain, enduring relentless pursuit, harsh weather and severe shortages. The journey ultimately preserved the revolutionary forces and became a landmark chapter in China's modern development. Nine decades later, the Long March remains a powerful symbol of perseverance, unity, sacrifice and dedication to national development.
David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of Foreign Languages Press of CICG and recipient of the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award, speaks during the overseas social media livestreamed interactive program "The Long March: Walk Your Own Journey" in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Zhang Pengpeng/China.org.cn]
David Ferguson reflected on the significance of retracing the historic route. "The Long March was a seminal event in modern Chinese history, and indeed in world history," Ferguson said. "But I think it is important that Westerners like me are capable of discussing the Long March and its impact on China and the world in an informed way. I am honored to have been invited to take part in this commemorative activity. I feel the weight of history and expectation on my shoulders. I will try to respond to the challenge to the best of my ability, as did the young men and women of the CPC and the Red Army who took part in the original Long March."
The project will bring together Chinese and international experts, scholars, social media influencers and youth representatives to travel the Long March route. Participants will experience firsthand the changes that have transformed communities along the route and gain deeper insights into how the values associated with the Long March continue to resonate today.
Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager of Springfield Urban League, speaks with journalists at the launch of the "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey" CICG International Communication Project in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
Zhavier Harris, who first visited China in 2016, said: "I remember moments from that trip as if they happened yesterday. The purity of the cultural exchange still brings a smile to my face." It was through that experience that he learned the truth of China — more beautiful and informative, he said, than anything one might see in a movie or read in an article. Harris added that he is excited to learn more, experience the full Long March and continue embracing the spirit of China. "Every step I take through the mountains, rivers, valleys and terrain, I am humbled and honored," he added.
Elsbeth van Paridon, sinologist and foreign expert at the Center for the Americas of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks with journalists at the museum marking the Red Army's departure for the Long March in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
The launch was witnessed by Chinese and international guests representing the media, cultural and academic sectors.
Following the launch, participants visited the memorial park and museum marking the departure of the Long March. In the afternoon, they walked a section of the Qilushan Red Army Trail.
A foreign guest livestreams at the memorial park marking the departure of the Long March in Yudu county, Jiangxi province, June 15, 2026. [Photo by Dong Ning/China.org.cn]
The project is expected to generate a wide range of content for international audiences, including commentaries, documentary interviews, short videos, social media livestreams, photo exhibitions and reports in multiple languages. Together, these efforts aim to bring the history and enduring legacy of the Long March to people around the world.
