​A relative of the celebrated military commander Marshal He Long reflects on family memories, local transformation and why the Long March spirit still matters today.

Ninety years after the victory of the Long March (1934-36), what remains of this extraordinary journey? In Sangzhi County, Hunan Province — where the Second Front Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army set out on its Long March — British host Tudor Finneran explores how the belief forged during those difficult years continues to live on, from thriving rural industries to cultural traditions passed down through the generations.

Hunan province is reinforcing its role as a major economic powerhouse, driven by advances in manufacturing, technological innovation and opening up. In 2025, the province's GDP reached 5.53 trillion yuan ($792 billion), highlighting solid progress in high-quality development.

Located deep in China's Wuling Mountains, Shibadong Village is widely known as the birthplace of "targeted poverty alleviation." This approach became a cornerstone of China's successful national campaign to eradicate poverty.

Hunan has a long history of mulberry planting and silkworm farming. Nowadays, Hunan has leveraged its advantages in resources for sericulture and sped up intelligent transformation to drive this industry to rejuvenate.

According to statistics, the standardized planting area of Zhangshugang peppers this year reached 11,800 mu, and the total output value of the entire industry chain is expected to exceed 500 million yuan, which may create employment for about 12,000 people during planting, transportation, processing, and sales.