ICN TV Network: US and Chinese College Students Retrace the Path of Mao's Long March
Students from the two countries experience one of the key turning points of modern Chinese history by completing the same trek that the Chinese leader took 80 years ago during those fateful days that were the first steps in the founding of the People's Republic of China
BEIJING, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 6th, a group of US and Chinese students completed the final leg – the Guizhou section – of the walk that retraced the steps taken by Mao Zedong and the Red Army 80 years ago as they faced off with the Nationalist forces who were competing for control of what eventually become the People's Republic of China.
Before the launch of this event, ICN TV Network, the leading television network for Chinese communities resident in North America, had rolled out the television series, Tour the Mother Road of China - the Unforgettable Experience of the Long March, with multiple episodes including The Thrill of the Long March, On the Road, and Searching for the 10th Bronze Statue. All the episodes are available on leading Chinese-language streaming platforms including Letv.com, LeCloud, Tudou, among others. The ICN production crew has traveled the region through which the Long March took place, including scenic sections replete with breathtaking landscapes in Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangxi provinces, in order to be well prepared for tour by the students, as well as putting together a detailed plan for promoting the spirit of the event those 80 years ago that was a turning point in Chinese and world history.
Since the tour was launched on August 28th, ICN and the Guizhou Daily, a leading regional newspaper and media group, have covered the story every step of the way. ICN and several media organizations under the umbrella Guizhou Daily Group, including the Guizhou City Post, Guizhou Business, the Guizhou News app and Zhengqianfang (the group's presence on WeChat, China's #1 social media and blogging platform), as well as several of the mainstream media organizations in Guizhou province and global Chinese-language new media outlets, including major nationwide and local portals, among them, xinhuanet.com, people.com.cn, 163.com, Sina, Tencent, and toutiao.com, have published in-depth reports on the tour from different perspectives. The rich mix of coverage of the event included full-length articles, photos and videos, among other formats. China's leading blogging platforms, including Weibo and WeChat also published their own articles covering and analyzing this highly acclaimed event.
On September 6th, the Guizhou section of the American and Chinese Students' Tour of the Long March Route was completed. The spirit of the Long March, a key milestone in modern Chinese history, has left a deep imprint on the hearts and minds of the students, and refreshed the understanding of the event among the vast audience that viewed the event on TV or read one of the articles. ICN played a major role in the preparation for, the filming of and the promotion of the event, and is proud to be involved in reviving the memory of this profound event that changed the course of Chinese history!
As one of the hosts, Ye Xin, Deputy Chairman of China Writers Association said:
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. Retracing the route of the Long March is a key event in China during 2016.
This time, the American and Chinese Students' Tour of the Long March Route, jointly launched by the Guizhou Daily Group and ICN TV Network, is another new and important contribution to the remembrance of the event.
As a host, I do feel that the American and Chinese students tour along the Long March route is a unique and new perspective on the event and has attracted worldwide attention. When American students expressed their feelings, some with tears in their eyes, after hearing the stories of female Red Army soldiers who joined the March, I felt the American and Chinese students had understood each other and gained a mutual understanding that they had never experienced before.
As a participant, Paige, a student at Christopher Newport University said:
I'm grateful that ICN gave me the opportunity to retrace the road taken by the Long March. The development of China is really impressive! I love Guizhou's traditional culture. The new villages are very beautiful, and I love the scenery and food here. This is an incredible and content-rich journey. The tour in Guizhou has me looking forward to further experiences. Maybe something more wonderful is awaiting us. Programs produced by ICN are interesting. They link us to China. Thank you!
Jonathan, a student at Christopher Newport University
The most impressive story for me about the Long March is the one about a 21-year-old Red Army soldier. He was wounded during a battle and had to undergo three amputations without any kind of anesthesia. Wars are all cruel. In the US, we also have many heroes like him. So we should try our best to cherish the hard-won victory and the consequent achievements.
Larry, a student at Hampton University
The landscape in China is very beautiful. We saw mountains and water all the way. During the journey we heard many Long March stories. I respect the bravery and perseverance of the Red Army soldiers. The spirit of the Long March is never going to disappear. This tour renewed my understanding of the spirit of the Long March.
SOURCE ICN TV Network
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