Zunyi: Youthful expression revitalizes red culture

Original title: Continue the spirit of the Long March and forge ahead on the journey of rejuvenation | Zunyi: Younger expressions rejuvenate red culture

When high-pressure water poured down from the top of the stage, the sound of artillery fire intertwined with the charging sound of the Red Army soldiers, and it was as if they were suddenly transported to the smoke-filled battlefield of the Xiangjiang Battle… Entering the theater located at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain in Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, the 360-degree rotatable stage spans the field of vision, and scenes such as the rapids of the Xiangjiang River, mountain plank roads, and the old conference site are unfolded in front of the audience.

This play is called “The Great Turning”.

Wang Liming, director of the marketing department of Guizhou Great Turning Cultural Development Co., Ltd., said that “The Great Turning” focuses on the Red Army’s bloody battle on the Xiangjiang River and then moved to Guizhou, held the Zunyi Conference, and crossed the Chishui River four times. It condenses the grand narrative into the theater. “By watching the performance, the audience can better understand the hard-won good life today.” Wang Liming said that the performance not only allows the audience to experience the red history up close, but also allows young people to deepen their understanding of the spirit of the Long March in a real and tangible artistic scene. According to statistics, since its launch in early 2024, “The Great Turning” has performed more than 2,500 times and received more than 800,000 tourists, many of whom are primary and secondary school students.

On June 9th, the red play “The Great Turning” was performed. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Hongyan

How does red culture attract young people? Zunyi continues to explore new paths.

At the Zunyi Conference Memorial Hall, which is only a few hundred meters away from the “Great Turning” theater, relying on digital exhibition upgrades such as holographic projection, VR interaction, and three-dimensional modeling, historical scenes such as the forced crossing of the Wu River and the Loushanguan victory were reproduced. The mottled Red Army slogans and other collections of cultural relics “tell stories” with the help of digital technology.

By wearing VR equipment, the audience can be at the historical scene of the Long March and experience the Red Army’s arduous expedition firsthand. Behind this is a microcosm of the continued digital transformation of the Zunyi Conference Memorial Hall. “We digitally model some cultural relics, which is not only conducive to the protection of cultural relics, but also facilitates digital exhibition.” said Li Qin, a seventh-level employee of the Cultural Protection Department of Zunyi Conference Memorial Hall.

In April 2025, the “Victory Post Office” jointly built by Loushanguan Scenic Area in Zunyi City and China Post was officially put into operation. This post office integrates postal delivery and cultural and creative sales, making red culture more perceptible and accessible. Walking into the “Victory Post Office”, there are postcards printed with the Red Army’s Long March route, commemorative badges with scenes of the Loushanguan battle, beautifully designed red-themed notebooks… there are a dazzling array of red cultural and creative products. “These diverse and novel cultural and creative products are very popular among young people.” said Zhou Ting, the person in charge of operations of Loushanguan Scenic Area.

Zhou Ting introduced that the scenic spot also relied on the “Victory Post Office” to develop a “letters from home are worth ten thousand yuan” party education course, and participants learned the red spirit in the immersive experience.