Documentary 'The Long March: A Road Without End' launched in Beijing

A launch ceremony for the international communication documentary "The Long March: A Road Without End" was held Saturday at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.

A launch ceremony for the international communication documentary "The Long March: A Road Without End" is held at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, April 18, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), Li Zongyuan, curator of the museum, and William Neil Brown, one of the documentary's narrators and a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, jointly unveiled the project.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March, the historic trek across some of China's most difficult terrain that ultimately preserved the revolutionary forces. To commemorate the occasion, CICG has launched an international communication initiative with the documentary as a flagship component.

The documentary explores the enduring relevance of the Long March spirit and its connection to China's contemporary development. It examines how this legacy of perseverance, resilience, and collective effort continues to inspire progress in areas such as rural revitalization, technological innovation, and national rejuvenation.

Drawing on the historical inquiry raised in "The Long March: The Untold Story" by American author Harrison Salisbury, the documentary follows two foreign participants— William Neil Brown, an American professor at Xiamen University, and Romuald Bronchart, a media professional from Belgium— as they retrace the Long March routes as travelers and observers.

A poster of the documentary "The Long March: A Road Without End." [Photo/CICG]

Using symbolic motifs such as rivers, lamps, bridges, roads, mountains, and flowers, the film translates grand historical narratives into shared human experiences, highlighting themes of endurance, trust, collaboration, and hope. It aims to make the spirit of the Long March more accessible to global audiences, especially younger generations.

William Neil Brown expressed hope that more people could better understand the contemporary significance of the Long March through a modern lens and stories of ordinary people overcoming difficulties, while Romuald Bronchart noted that the Long March is not only a chapter in Chinese history but also a universal story of human perseverance and will.

Jiang Yonggang, head of the Center for Europe and Asia under CICG, said the documentary seeks to turn profound ideas into relatable stories and abstract values into tangible experiences, fostering broader international resonance with China's narratives.

The documentary is produced by CICG and jointly developed by multiple partners, including the Museum of the Communist Party of China, and the publicity departments of several provinces and regions.