Revolutionary heritage fosters Ningxia's growth

As the commemoration day marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March (1934-36) draws near, Xiji county in Ningxia Hui autonomous region is leveraging its revolutionary history to develop tourism, strengthen local industries and create new opportunities for rural communities.

Once counted among China's most impoverished regions, the county has turned historical sites associated with the Red Army into tourism attractions while developing agriculture suited to its mountainous terrain and harsh environmental conditions.

According to local authorities, Xiji has received more than 7.4 million tourist visits over the last seven years, reflecting the growing interest in its revolutionary heritage and rural attractions.

The county holds a significant place in the history of the Long March. In October 1935, Mao Zedong led the Central Red Army through Shanjiaji village, where he spent an evening speaking with a respected local religious figure about the Communist Party of China's ethnic policies and resistance to Japanese aggression. Their conversation has since been remembered locally as an example of solidarity between the military and civilians as well as the unity among ethnic groups.

A year later, on Oct 22, 1936, the first and second front armies of the Red Army joined forces at Jiangtaibu, nearly 20 kilometers from Shanjiaji, marking a major milestone in the conclusion of the Long March. Stories of the Red Army's interactions with local residents have also been passed down through generations.

In Maojiagou village, Red Army soldiers dug 23 cave dwellings into hillsides during their stay in 1936 to avoid disturbing local residents. They lived there for more than 30 days. When the troops prepared to leave, villagers came to see them off, helping carry their belongings and offering boiled potatoes and steamed buns.

For Xie Hongyi, a villager from Maojiagou, these stories have been part of his childhood memories.

After working away from home for many years, Xie returned and started a business in his hometown. He has since developed a cultural tourism program that allows visitors to explore the cave dwellings once used by the Red Army and learn about a traditional food-preparation technique passed down through generations.

According to local accounts, the Red Army soldiers taught villagers how to process potatoes into starch noodles, a skill that has survived to this day.

Xie's project is part of the county's efforts to preserve its revolutionary heritage while creating new opportunities through tourism.

Xiji has hosted two editions of a regional Red tourism festival, promoting visits to revolutionary sites and encouraging greater public engagement with the history of the Long March.

Beyond tourism, the county has been seeking new economic opportunities by making better use of its natural environment.

Located on the southwestern edge of the Loess Plateau, Xiji forms part of Xihaigu, a region historically associated with harsh living conditions and widespread poverty.

Rather than relying on extensive traditional farming methods with low yields, the county has increasingly developed agricultural products suited to its high elevation, abundant sunlight and significant day and night temperature differences.

Zhen Jijun, director of the crop management office of the Xiji county agriculture and rural affairs bureau, said local authorities have focused on the breeding of beef cattle and the growth of potatoes, cool-climate vegetables, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and coarse grains.

Official figures showed that the county's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries and related industries generated 1.418 billion yuan ($211 million) in output in the first half of 2026, up 6.7 percent year-on-year. Rural residents' per capita disposable income rose 7.6 percent during the same period.

Mingtai village, the historical Red Army reunion site, demonstrates how agriculture and tourism are being developed alongside the preservation of revolutionary heritage.

"The spirit of the Long March inspires us to lead everyone toward a better life," said Liu Weiheng, the village's Party secretary.

The village has established a 33-hectare demonstration area for locally grown red plum apricots, a cool-climate vegetable base covering more than 66 hectares and a modern agricultural demonstration park with 36 solar greenhouses. The projects have created employment opportunities for residents close to home, according to Zhen.

Mingtai has also developed tourism facilities combining visits to the reunion site with a campsite for self-driving tourists, offering visitors opportunities to experience both revolutionary history and rural life, he added.

In 2025, the village's collective economic income reached 410,000 yuan, while residents' per capita disposable income stood at 19,000 yuan, according to official data.

Alongside these developments, Xiji has cultivated a distinctive literary culture rooted in its rural communities.

Recognized in 2011 as China's first "hometown of literature", the county has a long tradition of writing that is inspired by everyday life and the challenges faced by local residents.

Liu Defei, chairman of the Xiji county federation of literary and art circles, said the region's challenging natural environment and history of poverty had encouraged many residents to seek fulfillment through literature.

The county has organized visits to revolutionary sites for local writers and held literary activities, including poetry readings and tours focusing on revolutionary history.

Despite having fewer than 500,000 residents, Xiji has more than 1,600 people engaged in literary writing on a long-term basis, including 300 to 400 farmer writers, according to Liu.

"Reading and writing are not a refined pursuit for the few. They are part of everyday life in the fields and villages," Liu said.

Contact the writers at huqing@chinadaily.com.cn