Heroic stories bridge generations, borders

Yet the journey showed the students not only what people had endured, but also how places shaped by that history have changed.

Nuechter visited modern farms and factories along the route. In Xing'an county, he learned that about 110 metric tons of citrus are shipped to Russia by China-Europe freight trains each day, reaching Moscow in around 15 days.

"From the old trails of the past to today's freight trains, I can see that the Long March is not just a chapter in China's history. It is also a story about courage, development and the future," he said.

By the Yudu River, Schrag-Toso looked at the high-rises on the opposite bank, reflecting on the sacrifices behind China's transformation.

"I felt that the effort of earlier generations had not been in vain. The China we see today was built step by step through their dedication," he said.

In Tucheng, Risat saw modern bridges that connect communities where soldiers once relied on makeshift bridges. Residents told him the bridges had made it easier to commute to work, run businesses and transport produce to distant markets.

For him, the contrast was embodied in the bridge he had struggled to cross — and the modern spans around him.

"These bridges link the Red Army of 90 years ago with people today, while also bringing people around the world closer to the Long March. They allow foreigners like me to experience it in a real and deeply human way," he said.

Contact the writers at mengwenjie@i21st.cn