Ruijin, in East China's Jiangxi province, is the starting point of the Long March. It was the locus of the temporary central government of the Soviet Republic of China.
The Xiangjiang River battle was the fiercest and most dangerous campaign for the Red Army since the Long March started. This battle cost the Central Red Army over half of its troops, reducing soldiers to around 30,000 from 86,000.
The 120-meter-wide Wujiang River is flanked by steep cliffs on two sides. On Jan 1, 1935, the Central Red Army led by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai crossed the river after a three-day battle.
The Zunyi Meeting, held during Jan 15-17, 1935, ended the rule of Wang Ming's "Left" dogmatism and established a new central leadership represented by Mao Zedong, and is regarded as a crucial turning point for the Chinese revolution.
Mao Zedong employed a highly flexible warfare approach to get rid of pursuing enemies by crossing the Chishui River four times back and forth.
By crossing the Jinsha River in May 1935, the Red Army successfully shook off some 100,000 Kuomintang soldiers who had been pursuing them.
The Red Army soldiers started the river-crossing battle at Anshunchang, Sichuan province, on May 25, 1935. In the hail of bullets, a team of 18 commandos crossed the river on boats and controlled the ferry site.
The Red Army soldiers climbed on the iron chains to take over the bridge after the enemy took away the planks in May 1935.
On June 12, 1935, the Red Army forces started climbing Jiajinshan, the first snow-capped mountain with an altitude of over 4,000 meters, in the Long March.
The First and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army joined forces in Huining, Northwest China's Gansu province, on October 9, 1936. The First and Second Front Armies of the Red Army met in Jingning county, Gansu province, on October 22, 1936. After the three major forces of the Red Army met in Gansu province, the Long March came to an end.
Baozuo Battle was the first major victory after the first and fourth front armies joined forces. The Red Army killed, wounded and captured around 5,000 enemy soldiers.
During the Long March, the Lazikou Pass was the last major obstacle for the forces led by Mao Zedong to reach northern Gansu after their crossing of the Zoige Marsh.
Zhiluo Town Battle was dubbed “the last battle of the First Front Army of the Red Army in the Long March”. Mao Zedong said the battle presented “a groundbreaking ceremony” for Chinese revolutionary base in Northwest China.
On October 19, 1935, the main force of the First Front Army of the Red Army arrived at Wuqi town in northern Shaanxi province.
