Transformation of a minority village along the Long March

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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.

An aerial view of Yihai Village in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, September 8, 2026. Zhang Kai/CGTN

An aerial view of Yihai Lake in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, September 8, 2026. Zhang Kai/CGTN

A house built in the 1980s remains preserved in Yihai Village, Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, September 8, 2026. Zhang Yize/CGTN

A teacher plays with children at a kindergarten in Yihai Village, Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, September 8, 2026. Zhang Yize/CGTN

Houses built in 2016 in Yihai Village, Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, September 8, 2026. Zhang Yize/CGTN

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