Long March a journey of determination

More than 90 years after the Long March, the epic journey continues in the national consciousness of the Chinese people. The enduring legacy of resilience and transformation was palpable during my recent travels through Jiangxi and Guizhou provinces as part of an international delegation exploring key sites associated with the Long March.

The mountains, memorials and preserved revolutionary sites transformed historical accounts into something tangible and deeply human.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. The journey, from 1934 to 1936, helped preserve the revolutionary movement and laid the foundation for the eventual success of the Chinese revolution.

Our journey of rediscovery began in Yeping, Jiangxi province, one of the birthplaces of the Chinese revolution.

We visited preserved revolutionary sites and the Red Well, a symbol of the relationship between the revolutionary movement and ordinary communities.

In Yudu county, the significance of the Long March became even more vivid. It was here, in October 1934, that the Central Red Army embarked on its historic journey along the Yudu River. The memorial park in Yudu commemorates that departure, while The First Crossing of the Long March, a stage production at the Long March Grand Theater, vividly portrays the sacrifice and determination of the journey.

In Guizhou, we visited the Zunyi Conference Site, Loushan Pass and the Gouba Conference Site, locations tied to crucial moments and decisions during the Long March.

Yet, it was the landscape that made the greatest impression. Even with modern roads and comfortable transport, the mountains and valleys remain formidable. Imagining what it was like for soldiers with limited supplies, facing hostile forces and crossing rivers and mountains, transformed the Long March from an abstract historical event into a deeply human story of endurance.

In China, the Long March is remembered as a symbol of faith, perseverance, sacrifice and collective spirit. Its broader significance, however, extends beyond China's history and political experience.

For Kenya and much of the Global South, the journey offers an opportunity for reflection.

Our histories differ, but many developing societies share experiences of liberation struggles, political upheaval, poverty and the difficult task of nation building after colonial rule and conflict.

Kenya's own history, including the Mau Mau struggle, reminds us that nation building is rarely achieved without sacrifice.

Walking through the sites associated with the Long March prompted reflection not only on China's history but also on how Kenya remembers those who sacrificed for its independence.

One of the most striking lessons was China's effort to preserve historical memory and tell its stories to successive generations. At the carefully maintained historical sites, the experiences of those who participated in the Long March were preserved through memorials, museums, exhibitions and cultural productions.

This shows that preserving history and telling stories are closely connected.

A country can have a remarkable history, but if its stories are not preserved, documented and communicated effectively, they can gradually disappear from the national consciousness.

This is an area where Kenya and other African countries have much to reflect on. We have powerful stories of liberation, sacrifice and nation building, yet many remain insufficiently known among younger generations.

The lesson from China is not that Kenya should replicate China's approach. Rather, nations need to take ownership of their historical narratives.

We need to preserve important sites, document the experiences of those who lived through defining moments and find creative ways of telling these stories to younger generations.

Museums and memorials play an important role, but so do journalism, documentaries, books, theater, film, podcasts and digital platforms. Better storytelling can make history accessible without diminishing its complexity.

Preserving history is not about remaining trapped in the past. It is about giving future generations the context to understand the present and imagine the future.

The Long March was marked by several setbacks, yet it continued.

For developing countries confronting poverty, unemployment, inequality, climate change and technological disruption, the broader lesson of perseverance is very relevant. Development rarely happens overnight. It requires institutions, investment, patience and the ability to remain focused on long-term objectives even when immediate challenges appear overwhelming.

For Africa, the lesson is not that development must follow China's exact path. Rather, it is that difficult development challenges require persistence and a willingness to think beyond immediate political and economic cycles.

The Long March also offers a lesson about collective purpose. Its history is inseparable from the people who endured the journey together. For societies facing complex challenges today, collective effort remains essential.

Tracing the Long March route transformed a historical account into something tangible. At Yudu, I could imagine the beginning of the journey. At Zunyi, I could appreciate the significance of decisions taken under pressure. At Loushan Pass, the mountains reminded me of the scale of the challenge.

Ninety years later, the Long March belongs firmly to China's history. Yet some of its broader lessons belong to humanity. For Kenya and the Global South, the enduring message is that transformation requires resilience, collective effort, long-term thinking and, importantly, the determination to preserve and tell the stories of those who made earlier progress possible.

The Long March ended nine decades ago, but its journey continues in the questions it raises about how nations confront adversity, remember their past and build their future.

The author is the editorial director of Capital FM, a Kenyan news media group.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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