Long March

The Long March (长征) was a retreat by Communist forces from Kuomintang (Nationalist) armies in 1934 and 1935, and is considered a strategic feat that directly led to the foundation of today's People's Republic of China. Long March veterans — Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Lin Biao, Deng Xiaoping and others — became leaders of the Communist Party and important figures in 20th-century Chinese history. The March was in response to Chiang Kai Shek's determination to wipe out Communists strongholds in Jiangxi and Fujian once and for all. Their strategy was to encircle and crush, moving slowly and building fortifications. The Communists broke out of the encirclement and set off west. Eventually they settled in a new base at Yan'an in Shaanxi.

Exact numbers in various sources differ, but all say the journey took more than a year, covered several thousand kilometers mainly on foot, and crossed eight provinces. Over 80,000 men set out and not many over 10,000 completed the journey. Whatever else it is, the Long March is quite a tale of persistence in the face of adversity — climate, terrain and enemies.

Toward the end of the march, Chiang ordered two generals to attack the Communists but instead they arrested him and held him until he agreed to work with the Communists against the Japanese; see Xi'an incident.

There were several Communist armies which took different routes.