Red tourism nourishes spirit and economy

Li Xiaoyong, a retired power plant worker in Jinan, Shandong province, in his late 80s, likes visiting old places of the city. They range from museums to the air-raid shelters he used to help build. Jinan was one of the first big cities the CPC forces liberated in its civil war with the Kuomintang army in 1948. He said "Red tourism" is more like a spiritual journey to the past where old people could find memories of their long-gone friends and relatives.

"It is like paying a visit to your younger self, when the visitors can think better of their connection with the times and the world, as well as the connection between the past and the future," Li said.

Tourism revenue is a crucial driver behind the robust growth of "Red tourism". It now accounts for about 11 percent of the 6-trillion-yuan ($925 billion) domestic tourism market. Competition for tourists between locations is fierce.

Some provinces, including Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Gansu, Shanxi and Shaanxi, have collectively recommended their "Red tourism" itineraries and top tourist destinations before the start of the holiday.

The reason why local governments are actively promoting local "Red tourism" is that it represents an effective method to increase the income of people living near the attractions.

Many of the former revolutionary base areas of the CPC－not to mention the Long March that navigated difficult landscapes to elude the Kuomintang army's blocks, chases and attacks－are located in remote areas which are difficult to access. For a long time, the farmers who had given much support to the CPC lived difficult lives even after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. This was because of the harsh natural conditions and lack of transportation infrastructure.