Yesterday afternoon, a slim man wearing a Red Army uniform on top and Liberation shoes below pushed a two-wheeled cart in the People’s Square of the Great Hall, promoting the spirit of the Long March. He claimed to have quit his job last year and started hiking the Long March route on foot, planning to complete it in 1,000 days. Currently, he has taken seven months to reach downtown Chongqing from Jiangxi. Regarding this, some citizens expressed admiration, while others questioned whether he was seeking publicity.
Quitting job to hike the Long March route on foot
The man introduced himself as Yang Bo, 39, from Guizhou. In his two-wheeled cart, he carried a tent, sleeping bag, dry rations, a conical hat, maps, and many books on Party history collected along the way. Dressed in the Red Army uniform and with a bright five-starred red flag and a banner marked "Long March" on his cart, he drew the attention of passersby.
“I feel life is short and want to do something meaningful,” said Yang Bo. He loves films and TV shows about the Long March and admires the Red Army’s perseverance, which inspired him to hike the route on foot. Last year, he quit his job in Guangzhou and started pushing his two-wheeled cart from Jiangxi alone on June 5, planning to walk to Yan’an in 1,000 days. Yang Bo said, “Along the way, I want not only to experience the trials of the Long March but also to promote its spirit.”
Yang Bo promotes the spirit of the Long March to passersby at every stop.
Multiple life-threatening incidents occurred along the way
In the “China Drivers’ Traffic Atlas” that Yang Bo carries with him, reporters saw dense annotations and marked routes. “I studied for several months before setting off,” said Yang Bo. Before starting, he researched many books on Party history to map out all the routes of the Red Army’s Long March and gained a basic understanding of the local customs along the way.
Yang Bo explained that from Jiangxi to Guangdong, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and then Chongqing, he hiked all the way. “On average, I walk 20 kilometers a day, and go through a pair of Liberation shoes every month. Along the way, I constantly face the danger of getting trapped in the mountains,” Yang Bo said. Once in Hunan, during heavy rain, as he walked along a mountain path, he suddenly heard a loud “boom” behind him. A rock as big as a table rolled down and landed 200 meters behind him. “Many drivers offered to give me a ride, but I turned them all down,” Yang Bo said with a smile. Taking a vehicle would defeat the purpose of the Long March.
Wife doesn’t understand and threatens divorce
Yang Bo’s wife doesn’t understand his actions at all. “Quitting my job and using my savings to retrace the Long March — anyone would think I’m crazy,” said Yang Bo. Before quitting, he worked as a trainer at an educational institute with an annual income of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan. His wife was very unhappy after he quit. “When I told her I wanted to retrace the Long March, she even threatened divorce.”
“I spent a long time persuading her, and eventually won her support,” said Yang Bo. The spirit of the Red Army is “not afraid of hardship, not afraid of death,” representing the highest expression of the Chinese nation’s unyielding and self-improving spirit. Before setting off, Yang Bo gave his wife a “Long March lesson” every day after coming home. After much persuasion, she finally reluctantly agreed.
Collecting government stamps along the way as memorabilia
Among the items Yang Bo carries is a set of three black notebooks containing messages from well-wishers and stamped with seals from numerous government departments. Reporters saw stamps from Qijiang District, Jiangjin District, and many town governments within Chongqing.
“Along the way, many kind people have helped me,” Yang Bo recalled. Once, while walking late at night from Xinchang to Longping without a flashlight, a truck driver surnamed Guang used his headlights to light the way. “Although I declined repeatedly, he insisted on lighting the way for me for two kilometers until we reached a populated area in town, saying the area was unsafe.”
Many citizens also donated money to him. “So far, I’ve received nearly 2,000 yuan in donations,” Yang Bo said, pointing to the records in his notebook. He plans to save the money and donate it after completing the “Long March.” After finishing the trek, Yang Bo intends to write a book documenting his experiences along the way.
Voices
Public reactions are mixed, with both praise and skepticism
Many citizens have praised Yang Bo’s actions, but some have expressed doubts. After hearing Yang Bo’s speech, an elderly man named Liu said, “He doesn’t even fully understand the stories of the Long March, yet talks extensively about it. I think he might be promoting himself.”
Yang Bo said he has indeed faced a lot of skepticism along the way. One man once said to him, “Back when the Red Army was on the Long March, they were ambushed from the front and chased from behind, with planes bombing them from the sky, and they ate tree bark and grass roots. What are you doing this for?” In response, Yang Bo said he is retracing the route to promote the spirit of the Long March and encourage people to inherit and carry forward the Red Army’s fine traditions. “Even if it’s self-promotion, I’ll see it through to the end.”