Full coverage: 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Red Army's Long March

In early January 1935, the Red Army crossed the Wujiang River after a three-day battle against Kuomintang forces. The Yangtze’s largest southern tributary is flanked by steep cliffs. Back then, the only way to cross the river was by boat. After 80 years of development, conditions are better.

Connecting the past with the present. Qingshuihe Bridge was opened at the end of 2015. The project brings Weng’an County closer to neighboring economic hubs, and has provided the local economy with a boost. Fifty kilometers from the bridge, excavators are working hard to embrace this new momentum.

Fertilizer production started in Weng’an back in the 1980s, but the poorly-developed transport system hindered growth.

The situation now is very different, especially for the county’s largest factory. With improved traffic measures, the company has expanded its business and been able to supply fertilizers to provinces and countries much further afield.

“The logistical cost of our company has been reduced by a large margin ever since the Guiyang-Weng’an Expressway was built. Before the project, it was difficult for us to find enough vehicles. But now, things are different. Costs are down by 10 percent,” said Yao Hualong, chief engineer, Kingenta Norsterra Chemical Co., LTD.

Chen Zhufu started his career as a driver three years ago. His truck carries the county’s fertilizer products and travels all the way to south and east China, and even to the neighboring country Myanmar.

“It was extremely difficult for me to drive on the old road. It would take five to six hours to get to the provincial capital, Guiyang. But now, with the expressway, it takes less than an hour,” he said.

The Qingshuihe Bridge is built on Weng’an’s mountain ranges, where the Red Army walked through during the Long March. It is now the scene of a different kind of march, toward the county’s economic growth.

In recent years, Weng’an County has stepped up efforts to improve its basic facilities. This Qingshuihe Bridge, the second highest in the world, is one of the latest projects.

It connects the expressway from Weng’an to the provincial capital, Guiyang. The new road shortens the travel distance and opens up more business opportunities to locals than ever before.