Multilingual books bring Long March spirit to global readers

The year 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. One of the defining events in China's revolutionary history, the Long March has been documented and retold by generations of Chinese and international writers.

China International Communications Group (CICG) has long promoted the translation and publication of books about the Long March. Beginning in the 1950s, Foreign Languages Press published a series of memoirs and firsthand accounts, including "Stories of the Long March," "On the Long March with Chairman Mao," "On the Long March as Guard to Chou En-lai," and "Recalling the Long March." Published in languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Hindi, Burmese, Greek, Dutch, and Swahili, these works have given international readers interested in China's revolutionary history access to firsthand accounts of the Long March.

In recent years, CICG and its affiliated publishing houses have continued to publish books on the Long March in multiple languages and genres. These works revisit the historic expedition through personal recollections, historical research, and photographs, while exploring its legacy and significance for contemporary China.

A selection of books on the Long March published by China International Communications Group (CICG) is displayed at a themed exhibition commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing, October 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The Spirit of the Long March Ever Shines (Chinese-English bilingual)

Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, this book was jointly planned and published by Foreign Languages Press and China Pictorial in October 2026. It traces China's journey from the historic Long March to the present day through more than 150 photographs with accompanying text in Chinese and English. The book revisits landmark events such as the Zunyi Meeting, the four crossings of the Chishui River, the seizure of Luding Bridge, and the Red Army's arduous journey across snow-clad mountains and marshlands.

Historical photographs are juxtaposed with contemporary images capturing China's transformation, from major infrastructure projects to breakthroughs in science and technology. Through these images and personal stories, the book illustrates how the spirit of the Long March has inspired successive generations and contributed to China's development. It also features accounts by international observers and perspectives from abroad on the Long March and its enduring legacy, highlighting how these stories have reached audiences around the world.

March of Iron Will: Oral Histories of the Chinese Red Army's Long March Survivors (Chinese, English and Russian editions)

This book published by the New World Press is the result of a race-against-time project to interview the last surviving participants of the Long March, so as to preserve the precious oral testimonies of 54 Red Army veterans now averaging nearly 100 years old. More than a collection of irreplaceable historical records, these accounts distill the spirit of the Long March into something universal: Ordinary people whose quiet faith, profound sacrifice, and enduring hope echo across generations. They impart a spiritual strength that resonates across different cultures.

The Chinese edition of the book was published in April 2025, followed by its English and Russian editions in September 2026.

Stories of the Long March (English edition)

Republished by Foreign Languages Press in July 2026, this book features 14 firsthand accounts of the Long March by those who took part in the historic expedition. Told in simple yet moving language, these personal recollections offer vivid insights into the battles, hardships, and sacrifices endured by the Red Army soldiers along the way.

First published by Foreign Languages Press in 1958, the book has since appeared in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, German, French, Burmese, Hindi, Spanish, Greek, and Dutch. The 2026 edition is a reprint of the original English version, bringing these firsthand accounts to a new generation of readers.

Song of the Long March (Chinese, English and Russian editions)

Derived from the television documentary series of the same name, this book published by the New World Press interweaves three parallel threads in a polyphonic narrative: a historical account of the Red Army's Long March and its key figures, a commemoration of and tribute to the countless heroes and martyrs along the way, and a contemporary narrative on the development of a Long March national cultural park. It explores the history, culture, major events, achievements, and touching stories associated with the Long March, while highlighting the cultural park's significance, rich heritage, and ongoing development. The book aims to promote the Long March spirit and carry forward the revolutionary legacy of the Red Army.

The book's Chinese edition was published in April 2023, followed by the English edition in May 2024 and the Russian edition in April 2025.

The Long March (Chinese-English bilingual)

Adapted from the documentary "The Long March," produced by China Media Group, this bilingual Chinese-English book traces the history of the Long March in chronological order, from the circumstances that led to the Red Army's departure to its journey across China, major battles, and eventual reunion of its forces. It also includes interviews with Red Army veterans, adding firsthand recollections to the historical narrative.

The book was published by the New World Press in August 2022.

Misery and Glory: The Long March and Its Antecedents (English edition)

Published by Foreign Languages Press in December 2020, this book examines the early history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese revolution against the broader political and strategic backdrop of the East. It explores the interactions and conflicts among the CPC, the Kuomintang, Soviet Russia and the Communist International, and Japan's militarist establishment.

Focusing on major historical events and influential political figures, the book examines the epic Long March and explores how the CPC overcame formidable challenges to achieve eventual victory.

The Restraining Hand: Captivity for Christ in China (Chinese edition)

In 1922, Rudolf Alfred Bosshardt, a 22-year-old missionary, arrived in China with his wife. He was detained by the Red Army's Sixth Corps in Guizhou province in October 1934 on suspicion of espionage, and subsequently accompanied the troops on their Long March before being released in April 1936.

Bosshardt recounted his experiences in "The Restraining Hand: Captivity for Christ in China," first published in London in 1936. One of the earliest firsthand accounts of the Long March published in the West, the memoir offers a rare outsider's perspective on the Red Army, documenting the hardships of the journey, the soldiers' daily lives, and Bosshardt's observations of the troops. First published in Chinese in 2006, the book was released in a revised edition by China Pictorial Press in 2018.

The Long March of China's Red Army (English edition)

Edited by Xu Zhanquan, a leading expert on the Long March history and former senior researcher at the Academy of Military Science of the People's Liberation Army, this book offers a definitive account of this monumental event. It draws upon a wealth of historical sources and decades of academic research. Richly illustrated with over 130 images, it offers a vivid and objectively documented narrative of the Long March. Published by Foreign Languages Press in July 2017, the book is designed for an international readership and provides authoritative first-hand historical materials for overseas readers and researchers seeking a deeper understanding of this pivotal chapter in China's revolutionary history.

Panoramic Yan'an: The Long March Reunion in Wuqi County (Chinese edition)

Part of the Panoramic Yan'an series, this book explores the revolutionary history and local culture of Wuqi county in Shaanxi province. On Oct. 19, 1935, the Central Red Army arrived in Wuqi and joined forces with local Red Army troops, marking the end of the Central Red Army's Long March.

The book also introduces Wuqi's historical sites, traditional art, and folk culture, offering a broader picture of the county beyond its role in the Chinese revolution. It was published by Blossom Press in January 2008.

Recalling the Long March (English, Russian, Thai, Japanese, Spanish, French, Bengali, Urdu, German, and other editions)

Originally published in Chinese in 1975, this book by Liu Bocheng and others recounts key battles and strategic decisions during the Red Army's Long March. Among the strategies Liu recalls are the Red Army's flexible maneuvers and frequent changes of direction to evade enemy forces following the Zunyi Meeting. In 1978, Foreign Languages Press published an English collection featuring memoirs by Liu and other Red Army commanders.

The collection was subsequently published in several other languages, including Russian, Thai, Japanese, Spanish, French, Bengali, Urdu, and German.