Xinning Laoshanjie Red Tourism Area

　　　　Laoshanjie was the first major mountain crossed and the first significant challenge overcome by the Central Red Army during the Long March. Though no earth-shattering events occurred during the crossing compared to the myriad hardships faced later in the expedition, many veteran Red Army soldiers vividly recalled and deeply cherished the experience in their memoirs.

　　 Xinning County is a revolutionary base area where countless martyrs shed their blood for the cause. The Red Army passed through Xinning twice during the revolutionary years. In October 1930, [names redacted] led the Red Army from Baise, Guangxi, to Xinning, where they joined forces with the Central Red Army from Jiangxi. In November 1934, Chairman Mao led the Central Red Army over Xinning’s Laoshanjie on their advance toward Guizhou. To commemorate the revolutionary martyrs and promote national spirit, with the approval of the Xinning County People's Government, a patriotic education base was established in Wandeping Village, Baisha Town—the hometown of Wan Danping, one of the founders of the 8th Red Army, Chief of Staff of the 8th Red Army, and Commander of the Second Column.

　　 The Xinning Laoshanjie Red Tourism Area spans 20 square kilometers across the jurisdictions of Baisha Town and Jinshi Town in Xinning County. The scenic area boasts an elegant environment with towering ancient trees, including the majestic and spectacular Southern Hunan’s No. 1 Peak—Red Laoshanjie, which rises 1,772 meters above sea level. It also features historic Xinning landscapes such as “Stone Curtain and Flat Boat” and “Layered Rock Waterfall,” a thousand-year-old ancient tree known as “Wooden Dragon Crossing the River,” century-old ancestral halls and pagodas, as well as over thirty attractions including the “Xinning Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall,” “Xinning Distinguished Figures Exhibition Hall,” and “Xinning Historical Figures Exhibition Gallery.” The area offers a range of activities such as leisure travel, educational visits, rock climbing, and dining and accommodation, making it an ideal rural tourism destination.