Marching On: CGTN Revisits Long March Legacy in Guizhou

In a year that marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March’s triumphant conclusion, CGTN’s latest episode of the series Marching On turns its lens toward the rugged terrain of Guizhou province. Reporter Alasdair Baverstock leads viewers along the historic route, tracing the revolutionary army’s passage through the province’s “rugged hills and river‑carved valleys.” The broadcast not only revisits the physical challenges faced by the Red Army but also interrogates how the Long March’s symbolic capital continues to shape contemporary Chinese political discourse, regional development strategies, and the Party’s narrative of resilience. This article unpacks the reportage, situates it within the broader historiography of the Long March, and assesses why the revival of this legacy matters for Beijing’s domestic legitimacy and its projection of soft power abroad.

Historical Context: The Long March and Its Enduring Mythos

The Long March, undertaken between 1934 and 1935, remains a cornerstone of the Chinese Communist Party’s origin myth. The strategic retreat, which covered thousands of kilometres across some of China’s most inhospitable landscapes, is portrayed in Party historiography as a crucible of revolutionary will. By the time the Red Army emerged in Shaanxi, the march had been mythologised into a narrative of perseverance against overwhelming odds, a narrative that continues to be invoked in Party education and propaganda.

Scholars such as those at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have long noted that the Long March serves as a “political touchstone” for the Party, reinforcing legitimacy by linking present governance to the sacrifices of the past. The 90th anniversary, therefore, offers a timely occasion for state media to re‑engage the public with this foundational story, reinforcing the Party’s claim to historical continuity. CGTN’s decision to foreground Guizhou—a province that witnessed some of the most arduous mountain crossings—reflects a deliberate emphasis on the physical hardships that underscore the moral authority of the revolutionary legacy.

In the video’s description, CGTN frames the episode as part of a series that “unpacks the enduring legacy of its spirit in contemporary China.” This phrasing signals an intention not merely to recount historical facts but to draw explicit connections between the Long March’s ethos and current policy priorities, a pattern consistent with recent State Council white papers that stress “heritage‑driven development” in less‑developed regions.

Geographical Focus: Guizhou’s Rugged Landscape as a Symbolic Canvas

Guizhou’s topography, characterised by karst formations, steep valleys, and a network of rivers, presented formidable obstacles to the Red Army during its 1935 crossing. The province’s “rugged hills and river‑carved valleys,” as highlighted by Baverstock, remain largely unchanged, offering contemporary viewers a visceral sense of the terrain that tested the endurance of the revolutionary forces.

The CGTN footage, as described, follows the route through these natural features, allowing the audience to visualise the logistical challenges of moving troops, supplies, and wounded soldiers across narrow mountain passes. By juxtaposing historic accounts with present‑day scenery, the report underscores a continuity of hardship that the Party wishes to associate with modern development initiatives, such as the Belt & Road Initiative’s emphasis on “overcoming geographic constraints” to integrate interior provinces into national and global supply chains.

From a strategic perspective, Guizhou’s location in Southwest China also positions it as a gateway to Southeast Asian markets. The emphasis on the province’s physical geography thus serves a dual narrative function: it commemorates revolutionary sacrifice while subtly reinforcing the region’s contemporary relevance to China’s outward‑looking economic strategies.

Media Framing: CGTN’s Narrative Technique and Audience Targeting

CGTN, as China’s international broadcasting arm, tailors its content to both domestic and overseas audiences. In this episode, the use of an English‑speaking correspondent, Alasdair Baverstock, signals an outreach to non‑Chinese viewers, framing the Long March not merely as a domestic myth but as a universal story of perseverance. The video description’s inclusion of hashtags such as #longmarch and #FrontlineStory further aligns the piece with social‑media conventions, facilitating broader dissemination.

The report’s structure—beginning with a geographic overview, followed by historical anecdotes, and culminating in reflections on contemporary relevance—mirrors the editorial formula employed in other CGTN documentaries. This approach ensures that viewers receive a coherent narrative arc that links past to present, a technique praised in analyses by media scholars at MERICS who note CGTN’s “strategic storytelling” aimed at shaping foreign perceptions of China’s historical narrative.

Moreover, the description’s reference to “most watched videos” and “impossible challenge” segments, though unrelated to the Long March content, hints at the channel’s broader programming strategy: to blend serious documentary work with lighter, viral‑friendly formats. This hybrid model seeks to retain audience attention while delivering ideological messaging, a balance that has become increasingly important as global audiences fragment across platforms.

Political Significance: Reinforcing Party Legitimacy Through Heritage

The commemoration of the Long March’s 90th anniversary carries explicit political weight. By foregrounding the hardships endured by the revolutionary forces, the Party reasserts the moral authority derived from its historic struggle. This narrative is especially pertinent at a time when domestic challenges—such as demographic shifts and economic rebalancing—require renewed sources of collective identity.

State media’s emphasis on “the enduring legacy of its spirit” aligns with recent pronouncements from the Central Committee, which have called for “learning the Long March spirit to overcome new difficulties.” By broadcasting this message internationally, CGTN projects an image of a Party that remains rooted in its revolutionary origins, thereby countering external narratives that portray China as solely driven by economic pragmatism.

The strategic timing of the series also dovetails with the Party’s broader diplomatic agenda. As the United States and China navigate a complex relationship marked by competition and cooperation, the invocation of shared historical narratives can serve as a soft‑power tool. Highlighting the Long March’s themes of resilience and unity may resonate with audiences in developing nations that value anti‑colonial struggle, thereby enhancing China’s appeal in the Global South.

Economic Implications: Linking Historical Routes to Modern Development

Beyond symbolic resonance, the Long March route traverses regions that remain economically lagging compared to coastal provinces. By spotlighting Guizhou’s terrain, the CGTN report implicitly underscores the need for targeted investment to uplift these interior areas. The Party’s recent white papers have advocated for “heritage‑driven tourism” and “infrastructure upgrades” along historic routes, positioning them as catalysts for regional growth.

The narrative of “marching on” from the video title can be read as a metaphor for contemporary development policies that aim to “bridge” the gap between the periphery and the economic core. Projects such as high‑speed rail links and highway expansions in Guizhou are framed as modern equivalents of the Red Army’s arduous trek, transforming historic hardship into present‑day connectivity.

Analysts at CSIS have observed that integrating historically significant corridors into the Belt & Road Initiative’s domestic leg can enhance logistical efficiency while also providing a cultural tourism draw. The CGTN episode, by visually documenting the rugged landscape, contributes to a promotional campaign that could attract both domestic and foreign tourists, thereby diversifying Guizhou’s economic base beyond agriculture and mining.

Strategic Outlook: Regional Stability and Global Perception

In the broader geopolitical calculus, the revival of Long March symbolism serves multiple strategic purposes. Domestically, it reinforces social cohesion by invoking a shared heroic past, a factor that can mitigate internal dissent during periods of economic transition. Internationally, it projects an image of a nation that values perseverance and collective sacrifice, traits that can be leveraged in diplomatic engagements.

By broadcasting the episode through CGTN’s global platform, China signals to the world that its historical narratives remain integral to its contemporary identity. This soft‑power outreach may influence how partner countries perceive China’s rise—viewing it not merely as a rising economic power but as a civilization with a deep‑rooted historical consciousness.

Finally, the emphasis on “bridges” in the series title hints at a forward‑looking agenda: converting the memory of barriers—both literal and metaphorical—into pathways for cooperation. As regional supply chains become increasingly interlinked, the ability to frame historical routes as conduits for modern trade and cultural exchange could enhance China’s role as a hub in Eurasian connectivity. The CGTN episode, therefore, is more than a commemorative documentary; it is a strategic communication piece that ties the legacy of the Long March to the Party’s present and future objectives, reinforcing legitimacy at home while shaping perception abroad.

By Prof. Marcus Chen, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on the source material cited below. Sources: CGTN video report (15 September 2026); CGTN; Global1.News