NANCHANG - China on Tuesday launched an activity that will see journalists retrace the route of the Long March.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the launch ceremony in Jiangxi province. Ceremonies were also held in Fujian province.

The activity is aimed at paying tribute to the revolutionary martyrs and passing on the traditions of revolution, as the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China this year.

Huang called on journalists to firmly uphold ideals and beliefs and inspire the whole nation to join the Long March for the new era using pictures and stories.

Over 500 journalists from more than 30 media outlets across the country attended the ceremonies.

The Long March was a military maneuver carried out by the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army from 1934 to 1936.

During this period, they left their bases and marched across rivers, mountains and arid grassland to break a siege by Kuomintang forces and continue to fight Japanese aggressors.

Many marched as far as 12,500 kilometers.

Xinhua