A journey of understanding — discovering the spirit still shaping China's path forward

History is often something we encounter through textbooks, documentaries, or photographs. We learn about important events and the people who shaped our world. But I have always believed that to truly understand history, we must go beyond the pages of a book and experience the places where it unfolded.

That belief accompanied me as I retraced the footsteps of the Chinese Red Army during the Long March, traveling from Ruijin, Jiangxi province, to Jiajin Mountain in Sichuan province.

As a young American who has spent 10 years living and working in China, I have learned that understanding the country's present requires an appreciation of its past. The Long March, which began in 1934, was more than a military retreat across difficult terrain. It became a defining chapter in the history of the Communist Party of China, with a legacy that continues to shape China's national identity.