China Red Tourism

Author: Gu Yongzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The red journey is preserved like amber in the gaps of time, but the ceaseless footsteps of the Red Army soldiers, divine as they are, can occasionally be heard. This book successfully integrates self-guided travel with the pursuit of red footsteps, where revolutionary cultural landscapes and beautiful natural landscapes complement each other. 27 travel sites redraw the legendary red line of 80 years ago; over 400 exquisite images take you back to those red years.
Preface: We spent three months walking the path of the Red Army in a year, it was a jumping journey, relying on the speeding wheels. The Long March of 25,000 li was truly a journey through mountains and waters, full of difficulties. After 70 years, times have changed, and retracing that arduous path remains challenging. Added to this is the torment of illness, and as someone accustomed to long journeys, I felt a slight fear of the endless scenery stretching before me. As I was struggling to seek this path on the road, in December 2004, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "National Red Tourism Planning Program (2004-2010)." This was like a warm current flowing into my heart. I realized that my pilgrimage route was in line with this Party's "Program," and that is why I persisted. The Red Army, after enduring hardships, marked a red ribbon through arid and desolate lands through their arduous struggles. During the journey, I was often moved by things of unique significance, and I was not reluctant to shed tears for them, for the great people who created these great things. On that red ribbon, there are many dazzling pearls. With a heart full of reverence, I picked up those pearls stained with red, hoping to show them to the world. Due to the urgency of time, there were many places I did not visit, and some pearls slipped from my fingers, leaving me with a constant sense of unease. My wife accompanied me throughout the journey, offering me support, which helped me endure the remote corners. Before we set off, I wrote a small poem for her to express my feelings:
We set off on a distant journey,
Smiling tears dampen the misty heart of August.
Excitement tinged with a hint of sorrow,
Perhaps this is an unreturning journey.
Perhaps this is the destination of life.
The distance is always calling from afar.
Days without distance leave life without light.
In those days, we were often moved,
Attracted by the footsteps of the Red Army and the beautiful scenery, pressing forward day and night.
The life yearning for the distance is the wish of every person who loves life and nature, isn’t it?
The red journey is preserved like amber in the gaps of time, but the ceaseless footsteps of the Red Army soldiers, divine as they are, can occasionally be heard. This book successfully integrates self-guided travel with the pursuit of red footsteps, where revolutionary cultural landscapes and beautiful natural landscapes complement each other. 27 travel sites redraw the legendary red line of 80 years ago; over 400 exquisite images take you back to those red years.