Spirit of Long March fuels rural revitalization in Yunnan

The Kedu Memorial Hall for the Red Army's Long March in Dangui village in Kunming, Yunnan province, has drawn numerous visitors in recent years, contributing to the revitalization of the rural area.

Yang Binxiu, a 54-year-old resident, composed an original song to commemorate pomegranate blossoms and sings to visitors to help them better understand the history of the Long March.

"On April 30, 1935, when the Central Red Army arrived during the Long March, the pomegranate flowers were in bloom," Yang said. "The pomegranate symbolizes the spirit of unity. At that time, it represented the solidarity of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. Today and going forward, it stands for the unity of everyone in the nation."

This year, the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the memorial hall welcomes about 25 groups of visitors daily, with each group averaging around 45 people, said tour guide Gao Fan, 27.

It's important for the post-90s and post-2000s generations, who have emerged as a driving force behind societal progress, to understand and carry forward the spirit of the Long March, she said.

The surge in tourists has been profitable. Ma Daonian, a 44-year-old resident who has operated a restaurant since May 2023, confirmed the pattern. On significant occasions, such as this year's CPC anniversary, his restaurant gets a boost.

Yang Yechun, deputy secretary of the Party branch of the village, said per capita income in Dangui reached 21,800 yuan ($3,258) last year and is expected to jump even more this year.