JINGGANGSHAN, China – On the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to historic sites and make pilgrimages to party’s landmarks.

In a street where the Red Army once traveled, a group of retirees in historic pastel blue army uniforms play music made famous by countless films, television programs, and other forms of propaganda. Historical places in Jiangxi and Guizhou provinces – scenes of the early battles of the revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, his flight from the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek in the long march and the consolidation of his leadership in Zunyi – are experiencing an influx of tourists as post-pandemic this year Journey returns to China.

In Guizhou, tourism has already recovered to 2019 levels in the first quarter of 2021, local official Lu Yongzheng said. The province, which is one of the top travel destinations in China, welcomed millions of tourists who generated billions in revenue.

On a recent government-organized tour, Red Army descendants shared their ancestral stories at the Zunyi Memorial Museum, which houses artifacts from the time and hologram replicas of an important meeting where Mao established his dominance.

Kong Xia grew up hearing stories of hardship and the arduous Long March, a military retreat in which her grandfather Kong Xianquan participated. On the epic journey, the communists traveled treacherous terrain to eventually establish their World War II capital in arid northern Shaanxi province, from which they would expand in 1949 and eventually triumph over their nationalist rivals.

Kong Xia describes her grandfather’s life to pass on stories of the Communist Party’s humble beginnings, especially to younger generations who she fears may lose interest in the story.

“You should understand (the story), but you may not be interested,” Kong said. “I think this kind of suffering will inspire us to appreciate our happy and peaceful lives today and to do our job well.”

In 2016, the Zunyi Museum launched a traveling exhibition that visits colleges and universities across China. In order to arouse the interest of the younger visitors, more than 100 “young curators” were trained in elementary or middle school to tell classmates about the time of history.

“They received a very positive response, especially from visitors their age,” said the museum’s deputy curator, Zhang Xiaoling.

Crowds of tourists also visit the Jinggangshan Mountain Range in Jiangxi Province, known as the “Cradle of the Chinese Revolution,” where Mao fought his early battles and the revolutionary army was formed.

The rise in tourism is also accelerated by a campaign President Xi Jinping announced in February to educate the Communist Party’s 91 million-plus members of their history and ideology.

Bi Qiumei, in her early 70s, said she came to the museum to “pay homage to the revolutionary martyrs and Mao Zedong and see how China’s revolution succeeded”. She has been a party member since 1983.

“We’re very excited,” she giggles with old friends and classmates in tow.

Villages around the historic sites expect an influx of tourists on the 100th birthday.

Surrounded by the mountain ranges is Mayuan, an idyllic village with a little over 1,000 inhabitants. Flowers adorn newly paved concrete streets lined with rows of guest houses in an area where Mao’s forces were once trained for guerrilla warfare.

The government’s poverty reduction programs and the arrival of tourists caused a villager, Xie Xiaomin, to return to Mayuan in 2017 to build his own guest house.

Now the guest house has 30 rooms with 80 beds. Each room costs approximately $ 15 per night.

The village itself, says Xie, can now accommodate up to 1,000 guests.

“I am full of optimism for this year,” said Xie, referring to the centenary.

Xie’s grandfather, Yuan Wencai, helped set up a revolutionary base in the village and fought with Mao’s army.

Photos of his grandfather in his youth and his grandmother posing with Mao and the revolutionary general Zhu De adorn the entrance of the guest house.

Such personal stories become part of the tourists’ Mayuan experience.

“I would like to speak for as long as necessary and for as long as you are willing to listen to me.” Xie said.

Events are planned nationwide for the anniversary, including exhibitions, films, plays, concerts and awards for long-term party members. A ceremony is also expected on July 1, the day the nation celebrates its centenary, with a speech by President Xi Jinping.

On April 8, 2021, groups of tourists stand in line to enter the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province. On the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China’s historical sites and pilgrimage to the party’s landmarks. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A tour guide gives a guided tour of the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southern China’s Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021. On the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China’s historical sites and pilgrimage to the party’s landmarks. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A tourist holds a flag as he poses for photos in front of the sign for the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China's Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021.  For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China's historical sites and pilgrimages to party landmarks.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A tourist holds a flag as he poses for photos in front of the sign for the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021. For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China’s historical sites and pilgrimages to party landmarks. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A group of local retirees gathers in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, to sing revolutionary Red Army songs on April 12, 2021.  The group, whose members are in their late 50s to over 80 years old, gather regularly to sing to tourists visiting the nearby Zunyi Memorial Museum.  The late communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power in the museum located on the site of the Zunyi conference.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A group of local retirees gathers in Zunyi City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, to sing revolutionary Red Army songs on April 12, 2021. The group, whose members are in their late 50s to over 80 years old, gather regularly to sing tourists visiting the nearby Zunyi Memorial Museum. The late communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power in the museum located on the site of the Zunyi conference. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A tourist photographs a painting of the late communist leader Mao Zedong at the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China's Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021.  For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China's historical sites and pilgrimages to party landmarks.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A tourist photographs a painting of the late communist leader Mao Zedong at the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021. For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists flock to China’s historical sites and pilgrimages to party landmarks. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A group of local retirees gathers in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, to sing revolutionary Red Army songs on April 12, 2021.  The group, whose members are in their late 50s to over 80 years old, gather regularly to sing tourists visiting the nearby Zunyi Memorial Museum.  The late communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power in the museum located on the site of the Zunyi conference.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

A group of local retirees gathers in Zunyi City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, to sing revolutionary Red Army songs on April 12, 2021. The group, whose members are in their late 50s to over 80 years old, gather regularly to sing tourists visiting the nearby Zunyi Memorial Museum. The late communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power in the museum located on the site of the Zunyi conference. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

Souvenirs of the late communist leader Mao Zedong are sold in a gift shop at the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China's Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021.  For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists in China flock to history places and pilgrimages to party landmarks.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

Souvenirs of the late communist leader Mao Zedong are sold in a gift shop at the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province, on April 8, 2021. For the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists in China flock to history places and pilgrimages to party landmarks. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

Tourists from southern Henan Province wear Red Army uniforms as they walk to the Zunyi Memorial Museum in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on April 12, 2021, when Communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power.  (AP Photo / Emily Wang)

Tourists from southern Henan Province wear Red Army uniforms as they walk to the Zunyi Memorial Museum in Zunyi City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 12, 2021, when Communist leader Mao Zedong rose to power. (AP Photo / Emily Wang)