2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the victorious conclusion of the Long March of China's Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. To commemorate the occasion, an exhibition titled "The Great Journey — Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army," jointly organized by the Central Publicity Department, the Party History and Literature Research Institute, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, and hosted at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, held its opening ceremony in Beijing on September 22, 2026, and formally opened to the public on September 25. According to an October 4 CGTN report, more than 300 artifacts and historical documents in the exhibition are being shown publicly at a military museum for the first time, and the show has continued to draw large numbers of visitors through the National Day Golden Week holiday.

It should be noted that the total number of artifacts and documents on display far exceeds 300. According to official announcements, the exhibition presents 875 artifacts (sets) and 186 historical documents — more than 1,000 pieces in total — plus 357 historical photographs and charts. The figure of "more than 300 items debuting" refers specifically to the precious artifacts and documents being publicly exhibited for the first time at this show, not the total number of exhibits. This differs from some earlier brief reports that described the exhibition as displaying "more than 300 artifacts and documents" overall; this article uses the full figures released by the Military Museum and official Chinese media.

The exhibition occupies roughly 3,300 square meters on the western side of the museum's third floor, with a visitor route stretching more than 760 meters. It is organized into seven thematic sections plus an outlook section, systematically presenting the historical course of the Long March. Fourteen recreated historical scenes bring to life key episodes of the Long March, including the Battle of the Xiang River, the Zunyi Conference and the Four Crossings of the Chishui River, woven together with 60 Long March stories, while nine interactive exhibits and seven electronic query screens enhance the visitor experience and interactivity.

Historically, the Long March took place between October 1934 and October 1936, as China's Workers' and Peasants' Red Army undertook a large-scale strategic transfer to break free of encirclement by Nationalist forces and preserve its revolutionary strength. Historical accounts record that the Central Red Army (the First Front Army) numbered about 86,000 people when it set out from the Central Soviet Area in Jiangxi; over nearly a year, it traversed more than ten provinces and covered a total distance of roughly 25,000 li (about 12,500 kilometers), enduring major battles such as the Battle of the Xiang River, the Four Crossings of the Chishui River and the forced crossing of the Dadu River, as well as extreme natural hardships including crossing snow-capped mountains and marshland — suffering heavy losses along the way, with only a few thousand troops ultimately reaching northern Shaanxi. The Zunyi Conference, held in January 1935, established Mao Zedong's de facto leadership within the party and the Red Army, and is widely regarded as a life-or-death turning point in the history of the Communist Party of China. Besides the Central Red Army, the Second Front Army (led by He Long and Ren Bishi) and the Fourth Front Army (led by Zhang Guotao and Xu Xiangqian) also undertook their own Long Marches, while the 25th Red Army was among the first main Red Army units to reach northern Shaanxi. In October 1936, the First, Second and Fourth Front Armies converged in victory at Huining and Jiangtaibu in Gansu province, marking the complete conclusion of the Long March as a whole.

The exhibition's opening ceremony was held in Beijing on September 22. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party's Political Bureau and Secretary of the Secretariat, attended and spoke, announcing the opening of the exhibition. Also attending were Beijing Municipal Party Secretary Yin Li, Central Publicity Department Minister Li Shulei, Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Losang Jamcan, and Vice Premier Wang Yong, among others. About 600 people attended, including party, government and military officials, members of the armed forces, and representatives from various sectors of society.

In his remarks, Cai Qi said the exhibition comprehensively presents the glorious course of the great journey undertaken by the Red Army under the leadership of the Communist Party, and vividly conveys the valuable experience, great significance and far-reaching impact embodied in the Long March. He said it serves as an important platform for education on ideals and convictions, patriotism and revolutionary traditions, and holds real significance in inspiring the party, the military and people of all ethnic groups across the country to carry forward the spirit of the Long March and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The exhibition has been open to the public since September 25, with museum hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (last entry at 4:00 p.m.), closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Visitors can book a visit through the Military Museum's official WeChat service account, and timed, free guided tours are offered during the exhibition period.

It is worth noting that the exhibition's framing — marking the "90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March" — is based on the historic convergence of the Red Army's First, Second and Fourth Front Armies in October 1936 at places including Huining in Gansu province, which marked the final completion of the Long March in both military and organizational terms, exactly 90 years before 2026. This date differs from the more widely known October 1935 arrival of the Central Red Army (First Front Army) in northern Shaanxi, where it linked up with local Red Army forces — an event generally regarded as marking the end of the Central Red Army's own Long March but involving only one of the three main Red Army forces, not the full convergence. The two dates are often conflated.

The exhibition is also part of a broader series of nationwide events in 2026 commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Long March's victory. According to public reports, as early as January 26, 2026, the Taimiao Art Museum at Beijing's Working People's Cultural Palace opened "The Great Journey — Art Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March and the Long March National Cultural Park," featuring 118 works (sets) spanning Chinese and oil painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, sculpture, literature and video, organized into three sections — "Traces Across Mountains and Rivers," "Book of Convictions" and "Echoes of History" — running through March 1; the Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China also held a 90th-anniversary themed exhibition on February 9. During the Qingming festival period, China Media Group released an AI-produced documentary titled "For the Sake of Great Sacrifice," while the 41st Shanghai Spring International Music Festival opened on March 26 with a concert themed around the Long March's 90th anniversary. The National Cultural Heritage Administration also plans to jointly hold a "Long March Cultural Relics Protection and Exhibition Season" nationwide from August to October 2026. Public reports indicate that around the time of this exhibition's opening, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended related commemorative activities on Martyrs' Day, September 30, paying tribute to revolutionary martyrs, including those of the Long March. Analysts say that with the Military Museum's exhibition continuing to run through the National Day Golden Week, combined with strong holiday visitor demand, it is expected to remain a key site for "red tourism" and patriotic education in Beijing in the months ahead.