If you go

Getting there: Gansu province is one of the ideal destinations to experience the Long March culture.

Take a flight or high-speed train to Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu. Self-driving is highly recommended if you choose to trace the Red Army's footsteps in Gansu. The recommended self-driving route: Lazikou-Hadapu-Huining. Following this route won't require backtracking. High-speed trains are also a comfortable option. Take a train to Dingxi Railway Station and then a shuttle bus to Huining. Another train from Lanzhou to Hadapu Railway Station will take you to Hadapu's Long March memorial, just two kilometers from the station. From Hadapu, ride-sharing is an ideal way to get to Lazikou.

Activities: Lazikou was the last natural barrier the Red Army crossed during the Long March, opening the passage north into Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, and shattering the Kuomintang's plot to trap the Red Army in the snowcapped mountains and grasslands. Visit the Lazikou memorial hall, walk the canyon boardwalk, and imagine the fierce battle in this narrow pass.

Hadapu was the Long March's "gas station", where the exhausted Central Red Army rested and recruited soldiers. It was also the "decision-making site" where the Communist Party of China Central Committee learned from newspapers that Red Army forces and a revolutionary base existed in northern Shaanxi and decided to go there.

In Hadapu, stroll the Red Army Street, visit the "Yihechang" pharmacy where Mao Zedong once lived, and try the local Red Army guokui (dry bread).

Huining was where the Red Army's Second and Fourth Front armies joined forces with the First Front Army, marking the end of the Long March military expedition. Walk through the Huishi Gate, climb the memorial tower, and explore the Long March victory memorial hall to understand the significance of the three armies meeting.

Tickets: The sites and memorial halls are free to the public. Parking may incur a charge.

Tips: Hadapu's Long March memorial and Lazikou memorial hall are closed on Mondays. After visiting Lazikou, drive 2.5 hours to Zhagana village, famous for its canyon landscape and pastoral scenery — a perfect way to visit red tourism sites with stunning scenery.