Transformation of a minority village along the Long March

Beside Yihai Lake in Mianning County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a historic alliance forged during the Long March has become part of the story of a changing village. In 1935, Yi clan chieftain Xiaoyedan entered into an alliance with Red Army General Liu Bocheng. Following Yi tradition, they killed a chicken, mixed its blood with water as a substitute for wine, and drank the mixture together as sworn brothers. The ritual helped win the friendship of local Yi communities and enabled the Red Army to pass safely through the mountains.

Nine decades later, the Yihai Alliance has become a driver of tourism alongside the area's natural scenery. Yihai Lake received 132,000 visitors in 2025, bringing new opportunities to surrounding villages and improving local living conditions. Jiemeng Xinzhai in Yihai Village is one example. Reconstructed in 2016, the village has developed rural tourism in recent years, transforming its fortunes while preserving its connection to the history of the Long March.