The Long March (1934–1935) occupies a unique place in the history of modern China. It was not merely a military retreat but also a turning point in the political, ideological, and organizational development of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The march demonstrated the determination, endurance, and discipline of the Communist forces under extremely adverse conditions. It transformed the CCP from a struggling revolutionary organization into a united political movement under the leadership of Mao Zedong. In later years, it became one of the most celebrated events in Chinese revolutionary history and a powerful symbol of sacrifice and perseverance. The background of the Long March lay in the conflict between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Government (Kuomintang or KMT) led by Chiang Kai-shek. After the breakdown of the First United Front in 1927, the Nationalists launched a series of military campaigns against the Communists. The Communists established rural revolutionary bases, the most important being the Jiangxi Soviet in southeastern China. Under the leadership of Mao Zedong and Zhu De, the Red Army successfully resisted several Nationalist encirclement campaigns by employing guerrilla warfare, relying on peasant support, and making flexible tactical movements. However, the situation changed during Chiang Kai-shek's Fifth Encirclement Campaign, launched in 1933. Assisted by German military advisers, the Nationalists adopted a strategy of constructing fortified blockhouses to surround Communist territories gradually. Instead of relying on mobile guerrilla tactics, the Communist leadership at that time, influenced by Soviet military doctrines and directed by leaders such as Bo Gu and Otto Braun (Li De), adopted conventional warfare. This proved ineffective against the Nationalists' superior military strength. The Communist forces suffered heavy losses, shortages of supplies, and increasing isolation. By October 1934, the Communist leadership realized that remaining in Jiangxi would result in complete destruction. Consequently, approximately 86,000 soldiers, party officials, and supporters left the Jiangxi Soviet and began a massive retreat toward northwestern China. This movement came to be known as the Long March. The march covered nearly 9,000 to 10,000 kilometers over approximately one year. The Red Army crossed eleven provinces, numerous rivers, mountain ranges, forests, and grasslands while facing constant attacks from Nationalist forces, hostile local warlords, harsh weather, hunger, disease, and exhaustion. The journey remains one of the longest military retreats in world history. The initial stages of the march were extremely difficult. The Red Army suffered severe casualties while attempting to break through Nationalist defensive positions. The crossing of the Xiang River in late 1934 resulted in devastating losses, with nearly half of the Communist forces being killed or captured. This military disaster led many leaders to question the existing command structure and military strategy. A decisive moment came in January 1935 at the Zunyi Conference held in Guizhou Province. This meeting marked one of the most important turning points in the history of the Chinese Communist Party. The conference critically reviewed previous military failures and blamed rigid strategies for the setbacks. Mao Zedong emerged