**Title: Exploring the Color Red: Enhancing Revolutionary History to Boost High-Quality Red Tourism in Jiangxi**

**Interview with Wu Fayang**

Red symbolizes the core of Jiangxi’s revolutionary history, home to significant locations including the “Four Cradles” of the Chinese revolution—Jinggangshan, Nanchang, Ruijin, and Anyuan—alongside monuments such as the August 1st Nanchang Uprising Memorial and pivotal sites relevant to the Long March. The picturesque landscape of Jiangxi is dotted with red historical markers, cherished by locals who have shared passionate narratives of valor through their sacrifices.

**Highlighting the Red Legacy and Sharing its Stories**

There is palpable enthusiasm surrounding Jiangxi’s rich red history. During a recent bus tour to Xingu County, our guide energized the atmosphere by leading us in the Hakka song “Good Style of the Soviet Area Cadres.” The heartfelt lyrics, reflecting the bond between soldiers and civilians, resonated deeply with everyone on the bus, transforming it into a vibrant performance space with many passengers singing along and clapping to the rhythm.

The song has gained immense popularity, inspiring various artistic interpretations including dramas, dances, and literature, effectively establishing “Good Style of the Soviet Area Cadres” as a vivid symbol of Jiangxi’s historical narrative.

In recent years, Jiangxi has made remarkable progress in uncovering red resources and sharing its stories, presenting an array of outstanding creative works inspired by revolutionary themes. Notable adaptations include the Ji’an Tea-Picking Opera “With Salt and Together” and the Gannan Tea-Picking Opera “A Person’s Long March,” both of which have struck a chord with audiences.

“I was particularly taken by the scene in ‘With Salt and Together’ where red lighting mimicked a Red Army battle,” shared Xiao Chenwei, an audience member from Ji’an who has a personal connection to tea-picking opera through his grandfather, a musician for the troupe.

Since premiering at the Beijing Tiānqiáo Art Center in April, “With Salt and Together” has been performed to packed houses, earning enthusiastic applause. Meanwhile, “A Person’s Long March” has toured through major cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, and Wuhan, while the Gannan tea-picking musical “Eight Sons Join the Army” has captivated audiences across over 100 cities nationwide.

In an effort to further cultivate red culture and disseminate these narratives, Yudu County has established several performance troupes, notably the Long March Source Choir and the Long March Source Propaganda Team, which regularly host red cultural events. The Long March Source Propaganda Team alone has conducted more than 830 public lectures and was recognized as a leading grassroots theoretical propaganda group by the Central Propaganda Department.

Mei Yi, Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, emphasized the importance of preserving red resources and passing on revolutionary heritage at the 2023 China Red Tourism Expo. She urged collaboration within the tourism sector to ensure thorough evaluation and conservation of revolutionary artifacts, enabling them to remain dynamic and educational.

**Connecting Red Attractions and Developing Red Tourism**

As the National Day holiday approaches, university student Liu from Chenzhou, Hunan, expressed his excitement about visiting iconic red sites like the August 1st Square for the flag-raising ceremony and the Tengwang Pavilion. He is particularly drawn to the historical significance of the Nanchang Uprising and the breathtaking views it provides.

To enhance red tourism, Nanchang recently launched a new route titled “Toward the Place Where the Red Flag Rises,” which guides visitors through significant sites including the August 1st Uprising Memorial, Jiangxi Provincial Museum, and memorial gardens honoring martyr Fang Zhimin. These guided tours offer tourists a chance to connect with red history and deepen their sense of national pride.

Across Jiangxi, initiatives are intensifying to develop high-quality tourism rooted in revolutionary history, aligning with goals to establish premier locations for red resource protection and tourism. For example, Ruijin has fostered partnerships with areas important for revolutionary training, creating an environment conducive to resource sharing and cooperative growth.

“Having driven from Xi’an, we previously visited Shaoshan and Jinggangshan, but coming to Ruijin, the birthplace of the republic, was essential for us,” noted Mr. Zhou from Xi’an, who possesses a keen interest in red history.

Yudu County has also made significant advancements by renovating key red sites and setting up over 30 educational points dedicated to party discipline and revolutionary studies. This collaborative effort attracted 1.5 million visitors in 2023, representing a 20.8% increase from the previous year, which has greatly contributed to tourism revenue growth.

The Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has proposed a development plan for red tourism spanning 2024 to 2028, focusing on optimizing the region’s unique resources to enhance visitor experiences, improve regional connectivity, and foster brand development. This comprehensive strategy aims to position Jiangxi as the leading destination for red tourism in the country.