Cheng on his Long March journey Photo: Screenshot from media report

After 248 days of walking about 6,000 kilometers, 74-year-old Hong Kong resident Cheng Chun-yin was approaching the end of his journey—retracing the route of the Red Army's Long March from Yudu in Southeast China's Jiangxi Province to Wuqi in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, fulfilling a dream half a century in the making, state broadcaster CCTV News reported.

Cheng set out from Yudu on October 17, 2024, following the historic route through Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and other provinces before entering Gansu Province. By noon on October 18 this year, he had walked 6,006 kilometers, with only about 100 kilometers left to reach the finish line, the report said.

His admiration for the Long March began in 1972 during his university years after reading Edgar Snow's Red Star over China. "That book left me with great impression of the Red Army," he said. Noting that many people have retraced the route to learn from its spirit and inherit its legacy, he said: "I also wanted to be one of them."

"It was the first time I learned that there were people in China willing to make such enormous sacrifices for their ideals," Cheng noted. Deeply inspired, he promised himself that one day he would walk the Long March route. After retiring in 2019, he was ready to honor what he called "a promise delayed for more than half a century."

To prepare for the demanding trek, Cheng drew on his long-time passion for long-distance running and hiking. Even after retirement, he maintained strong physical fitness through regular walking and mountaineering. His past experience completing over 30 marathons and long-distance hikes gave him the confidence to cover some 30 kilometers a day, spending 8-10 hours on foot, CCTV News reported.

Throughout the journey, Cheng kept a "Long March diary" on his phone, compiling 247 entries. At each historic site, he visited memorial halls and local elders, carefully recording his observations and reflections.

On September 9, he wrote about the warmth he encountered in a village in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region: "A middle-aged woman waved and invited me into her home… She offered me tea, and before I left, gave me a bag of fruit. I was deeply touched." 

With his journey nearing its end, two friends from Hong Kong have traveled to Gansu to accompany him on the final leg, according to Chinanews.cn. 

"One should have dreams and passion, and not be limited by age," Cheng said. "If you work hard and take action, you can succeed." Looking back at the road behind him, he added, "Having completed the most difficult challenge of my life, I have no regrets."


Global Times