"Thousands of Miles of the Long March," a Chinese painting that was on show in Sichuan, clearly demonstrates the extreme hardship and difficulties of the Red Army's Long March (1934-1936). It's 32 meters long and 99 centimeters wide. 

The painting will be shown in Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Dalian, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Harbin, Nanjing and Qingdao over the next five months.  

The painting, created by 18 famous calligraphers and painters based on the historical facts of various critical moments of the Red Army's Long March, was carried by the Shenzhou VI manned spacecraft that blasted off on October 12, 2005. It was the first time a Chinese painting had actually headed for the stars.

The "Thousands of Miles of the Long March" is made up of 18 parts and 111 of China's most famous painters and scholars, together with the two astronauts, Fei Junlong and Nei Haisheng, have signed it.

According to Cao Yuwen, the organizer of the "Ode to Shenzhou VI and the Long March" initiative, it's the first scroll of paintings and calligraphic work to fully display of the event. The Long March of the Red Army and the successful exploration of space are certainly two very different "Long Marches" by Chinese servicemen from very different eras.

However, both events equally proclaimed the take-off of the giant dragon in the east and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

(China.org.cn July 31, 2006)