Story of the halved quilt carries Long March spirit

Lacking food and clothing, even facing life-or-death situations, the Red Army still kept the people's wellbeing in mind, Xi said, noting that the story shows the CPC's original aspiration and character.

Nearly 90 years after the victory of the Long March, its spirit endures, and the impact of the "half a quilt" story extends far beyond its retelling.

Inspired by the story, five members of Xu's family have joined the military. Among them is Zhu Xiangqun, Xu's great-grandson, who now serves as the Party secretary of Shazhou village. Nearly every day, he works to address the concerns of each household and manage village affairs.

One of Xu's final wishes was to see the village road revamped, Zhu Xiangqun said. In 2017, a new tourism highway was completed through the mountains. Now, tourist buses park at the village entrance almost daily, and boxes of local produce, sold through livestreaming e-commerce, are transported along this road to destinations across the country.

With the exhibition hall and other Red tourism attractions drawing increasing numbers of visitors, many villagers have opened homestays, restaurants, and specialty shops. In 2025, the village welcomed 1.42 million visitors, and the per capita income for residents exceeded 26,000 yuan ($3,740). "Our village has transformed thanks to the boom in Red tourism, and life continues to improve," Zhu Xiangqun said.

Zhu Shuhua, the exhibition hall docent, now often shares the "half a quilt" story with her children.

"Every generation has its own Long March," she said. "I hope the kids, as well as other children, can resonate with the old story and continue to pass on this warmth."

Contact the writers at limuyun@chinadaily.com.cn