A virtual connection spanning more than 4,000 kilometers recently brought together Hutouli Primary School in Heze Luxi New Area, Shandong Province, and Shibqi Border Defense Company of a border regiment under the Ali Military Sub-command in Tibet. Marking the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory, the two sides held a unique national defense education session under the theme "Walking the New Era Long March Together" through online links, story sharing, and interactive exchanges. Shibqi, meaning "the last place where the sun sets" in Tibetan, is one of the most remote companies in the Ali Military Sub-command, while Hutouli Primary School, an ordinary rural school, has forged an extraordinary six-year bond with these border defenders.

Six Years of Letters Witness a Bond Across Mountains and Seas

Tracing back to March 1, 2021, during the first lesson of the new semester, a teacher at Hutouli Primary School in Heze Luxi New Area shared stories of border hero soldiers with students. On screen, images of soldiers trudging through ice and snow to safeguard the nation deeply moved the children. Encouraged by their teacher, the students attempted to write letters to the border guards thousands of miles away. The first mailing included 46 handwritten letters and drawings. Student Ma Xuchen wrote, "Dear PLA uncles, I drew a picture. You guard the border while I study hard at school. Our hearts are connected, and together we protect our country." From Heze, Shandong to Ali, Tibet, the distance is nearly 4,500 kilometers. The children had no idea what their "idols" looked like, only that they held rifles and wore camouflage uniforms. To their delight, the soldiers replied. That year on International Children's Day, the children received return letters. A soldier from the border regiment wrote, "Teachers and students of Hutouli Primary School, we have received your care and blessings. Rest assured, the mountains and rivers of our motherland are in our hands, and not an inch will be lost."

From that moment, a bond between the military and civilians took root across vast distances. In spring, students invited soldiers to "virtually admire" peonies; at Mid-Autumn Festival, they sent handmade cards and mooncakes to Ali; at New Year, they dispatched carefully prepared greeting cards. The border guards not only wrote back to encourage the children but also selected "border stones" during patrols, painting their daily patrol routines on them as gifts. Six years on, the correspondence has never ceased. During the 2025 "National Defense Education Month," the two sides met online under the theme "Cloud Visit to Border Posts, Building a Strong Military Dream Together." This year, as the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory arrived, the promise extended to "Walking the New Era Long March Together." From "cloud visits" to "walking together," the theme has changed, but the dialogue about guardianship and growth between the two places remains constant.

A Cloud Reunion for a Shared National Defense Lesson

At 4:30 PM on September 18, the screens lit up. Soldiers of Shibqi Border Defense Company sat upright before the cameras, impeccably dressed and poised. In the auditorium of Hutouli Primary School in Luxi New Area, teachers and students sat in orderly rows. On both ends of the screens, children raised their right hands in a young pioneers' salute, while soldiers returned with military salutes. Across more than 4,000 kilometers, two forms of salute froze in the same moment as the event officially commenced. A student representative then took the stage to share the story of the "Half a Quilt" from the Long March, where three female Red Army soldiers cut their only quilt in half to leave with villager Xu Jiexiu, helping the children grasp the deep bond between the Communist Party and the people. "Ninety years ago, our forebears traversed the 25,000-li Long March on foot; today, on the highland frontier, a group of people walks their own new era Long March through steadfast dedication," the soldier representative told the children during a special national defense lesson.

During the lesson, the soldiers explained the meaning of national defense and recounted the hardships and perseverance of high-altitude patrols based on their own experiences. One soldier said, "We stand guard here so that you can sit safely in your classrooms and study." The children listened with extraordinary focus. During the Q&A, a student asked, "Uncle, are you scared during patrols?" The soldier replied, "Yes, but knowing our country is behind us, we cannot retreat." Another student asked, "What do you do when you miss home?" The soldier answered, "We look at the border markers and the national flag, and we know it's all worth it." These heartfelt exchanges drew the hearts on both sides of the screens closer together.

Poster Union Marks the Convergence of Two "Long Marches"

The most touching moment came during the poster-joining segment. Representatives from both locations simultaneously held up thematic posters, connecting them via the screens as a command was given. The "New Era Border Defense Road" and the "Youth Growth Road" seamlessly linked, with the historical Long March route at the top completing the union. Both sides raised the posters toward the cameras, freezing a shared moment across mountains and seas. All participants stood facing the national flag and young pioneers' flag, jointly pledging, "Carry forward the Long March spirit, keep national defense in our hearts, and strengthen our nation through action!" The resounding vow traveled from the plains of Shandong to the highlands of Tibet. "Today, I'm thrilled to interact online with the border guard uncles. Learning about the hardships they endure to defend our country has inspired me greatly and deepened my understanding that 'a nation cannot stand without defense.' I will study hard and contribute to our country in the future," said fifth-grader Li Ruoxi of Hutouli Primary School. Teacher Yang Junpeng added, "We've maintained correspondence with border troops for six consecutive years. Today's session is not just a national defense lesson but a seed. It plants the belief in protecting the nation and cherishing peace in children's hearts. We will continue to deepen military-civilian cooperation, integrating national defense education into daily life and children's minds."

2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory. The Long March spirit is a vital component of the Chinese Communists' red heritage and spiritual lineage, serving as core material for youth patriotism and national defense education. This event, centered on the "New Era Long March," combined the Long March spirit with contemporary border defense practices, enabling students to grasp the modern relevance of that spirit through authentic dialogue, strengthen their national defense awareness through emotional resonance, and pass on the red heritage from generation to generation. This virtual gathering spanning over 4,000 kilometers connects the Shandong plains with the Tibetan highlands, passing on the unwavering Long March spirit. The story of the border guards and Hutouli Primary School continues to unfold.