Red Tour

Red riding journey

By Zhang Xi (China Daily European Weekly)
Updated: 2011-06-24 10:53

Clockwise from top left: The Zunyi Conference was held in this 1930s-style home, which once belonged to a Kuomintang commander; Jinggangshan is known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution and has many monuments; former residence of Mao Zedong in Yan'an, which boasts more than 350 revolutionary sites. Photos Provided to China Daily

Mao's home town of Shaoshan has many attractions devoted to the Great Helmsman. Photos Provided to China Daily

'Red tours' are red hot and take visitors on a Long March down memory lane

For the past five years, the Chinese government has designated landmark places that have historical links with the development of the Communist Party of China in order to boost the economy of revolutionary regions. The government estimates the sites have raised more than 100 billion yuan (10.9 billion euros) for these regions, which are mainly located in mountainous areas and are comparatively poor. The increased tourism has provided job opportunities for 2 million people and has indirectly benefited 10 million residents. Now these towns and cities, many along the route of the Long March (1934-36), have become popular tourist hubs that are attracting millions of visitors each year. Here are five special revolutionary spots worth checking out.