An oil painting shows Mao Zedong and the Red Army during the Long March. [File photo/Xinhua]

As to Mao's quote about the unite covering the longest distance, it may refer to ground troops responsible for making reconnaissance, fighting on frontline, providing cover to main forces, etc. From the same departure point to the same destination, some regiment may cover more than twice the distance other regiments had covered.

In 80 years since the Long March was successfully completed in 1936, great transformation has taken on the routes that the Red Army marched. So, whoever tries to retrace the route of the Long March today will never walk the same road or cover the same distance the Red Army covered during the 1930s.