Kathmandu— On Sunday morning, the high-speed train G3998 departed from Ruijin City in Jiangxi Province, bound for Yan'an City in Shaanxi Province, marking the first direct high-speed rail connection between two key revolutionary sites of the Long March. The journey, previously taking up to 22 hours, now takes about 11 hours, significantly reducing travel time and enhancing access to these historically significant locations.

Historical Significance

Ruijin and Yan'an are both landmarks in China's revolutionary history. Located in eastern and northwestern China respectively, they are separated by a straight-line distance of over 1,300 kilometers, yet bound together by the Long March. More than 90 years ago, the Central Red Army set out from Ruijin and marched 12,500 kilometers through countless trials and perils to reach northern Shaanxi. The new rail line serves as a vital artery connecting eastern China with the city clusters in the northwest, forging an important corridor for economic exchange and creating an efficient and convenient bridge for domestic and international travelers to visit the two major revolutionary sites of the Long March in person.

Personal Journeys

Passengers like Liu Ying, a 67-year-old descendant of a Red Army veteran, are following in their ancestors' footsteps. Liu never met her grandfather, Liu Jinchang, who was among the more than 86,000 soldiers of the Central Red Army who set out on the Long March in October 1934. Liu said, 'My grandfather set out from Ruijin, but he never made it to Yan'an. Today, I'm following the route he took northward, finishing the journey he couldn't complete and seeing the Yan'an he never got to see.' On board the high-speed train, dozens of descendants of Red Army veterans were also making the journey, each carrying their family's memories and stories.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The new rail line is expected to boost economic and cultural tourism. Yu Qiumei, deputy director of Ruijin's bureau of culture, radio, television and tourism, said, 'Revolutionary bases joining hands for development is seriously compromised if transport links are inadequate.' Ruijin and Yan'an have both developed integrated, multi-modal transport networks covering aviation, high-speed rail, and expressways, achieving a historic transformation in their transport landscapes. The bureau also plans to hold promotional events in major cities along the route, including Wuhan and Xi'an, to boost red tourism in the city.

The railway authority will further optimize capacity deployment to facilitate a faster flow of passengers, goods, and information between the two cities, according to China Railway Nanchang Group Co., Ltd.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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Originally published on abcnews.com.np.