Descendant of revolutionary fighters keeps spirit alive

Zhong Ming tells revolutionary stories to Armed Police officers in Zhongfu village, Changting county. CHINA DAILY

Zhong Ming, a descendant of revolutionary fighters, has been dedicated to rekindling patriotism and appreciation for the hard-earned revolutionary victory, and turning the legacy into "spiritual fuel" for today's young.

Since 2012, the 59-year-old has worked as a tour guide at the revolutionary site of the route of the Long March in Zhongfu village, located in Changting county in Fujian province. Six of his family members sacrificed their lives during the march.

"As a descendant of the Red Army, it is far from enough to reminisce about the heroic stories of sacrifice of our predecessors," Zhong said, adding that his persistence working as a tour guide to tell their stories is driven by the responsibility of passing on beliefs of the revolutionists.

On Sept 30, 1934, the Ninth Front Army of the Red Army began the Long March at Zhongfu. More than 20,000 soldiers from western Fujian joined the march, and more than 6,600 warriors who died along the epic journey were registered as revolutionary martyrs.

"About 700 people from Zhongfu village joined in the Long March, with only seven of them surviving, and 161 recognized as martyrs. Most of the fighters who lost their lives along the journey are unknown heroes," Zhong said.

In September 1934, the Ninth Front Army and the Twenty-fourth Army Division had a fierce fight with Kuomintang troops in Changting, and more than 10,000 soldiers died in the battle to earn precious time for the strategic transfer of the main army.

"Every time I retell the tragic battle and how villagers at Zhongfu provided supplies to the soldiers, I feel like I can hear the sound of gunshots from the battlefield," Zhong said.

As a tour guide, his work is to share the history and spirit of the Long March to visitors. The core spirit of the Long March is "following the Party", Zhong said, explaining that just like parents who give everything they have for their children, countless revolutionists devoted their lives to create a better life for the next generation.

The most important thing left by their ancestors is the spirit, he said, adding that only by understanding their spirit and faith can Red culture be carried forward.

Zhong offers guide services to nearly 100,000 visitors who come to the village for Party education every year. When celebrating the 85th anniversary of the start of the Long March in 2019, he interpreted for six hours a day for nearly half a month.

Zhong grew up listening to stories of hardship, toil and the arduous journey. In 1983, a Red Army veteran who came to Zhongfu to look for the site where he buried his comrades was seeking an interpreter, and Zhong, who was an English teacher at the time, was accidentally recommended for the job.

Though it turned out the interpretation needed was actually between Hakka and Mandarin, the experience drew his attention to the Red history of his hometown and prompted him to use his spare time to collect historical materials and research the revolutionary past.

In 2012, Zhong gave up his business in Beijing and returned to the village to act as a volunteer tour guide. In the same year, the village began to restore facilities and promote Red culture.

In 2015, Zhong was hired as an official tour guide by the county. He changes his clothes and commentary for different visitors.

For example, he will highlight education of the Party spirit when guiding groups of Party members to consolidate their ideals and convictions. While receiving tour groups of students, he will share more of his feelings and encourage them to study hard and be grateful for today's happy life.

"In the beginning, I just wanted to tell the heroic stories of the village and the county," he said. Since he became a teacher at the local Party school, Zhong said he started to realize why the Party paid so much attention to promoting Red history.

"The revolutionists shed their blood and pledged their lives for today's life, and this kind of suffering will inspire us to cherish our peaceful lives and drive us to overcome difficulties," he said.

It is not enough to just recollect stories of hardship and bring visitors to tears, he said, adding that what matters is passing on positive energy.

Zhong is passionate about receiving groups of students from universities and also gives speeches about Red culture to educate students in middle school. He believes it is important to pass down stories of the Party's humble beginnings, especially to younger generations, who are the future of the country but find little resonance in revolutionary history.