Chinese prosecutors have stepped up efforts to protect cultural heritage associated with the Long March, using public interest litigation to address damage to revolutionary sites, memorial facilities and other Red cultural resources as the country marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March's victory.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate recently released a series of model cases highlighting a national campaign to strengthen the protection and preservation of Long March-related cultural heritage.
Launched earlier this year, the campaign covers 15 provincial-level regions along the Long March routes. Prosecutors have handled 434 cases, held consultations in 76 cases, issued 326 procuratorial recommendations and filed 10 lawsuits, helping protect 499 Long March-related cultural relics and 477 revolutionary memorial facilities, according to the SPP.
The top procuratorate said prosecutors have made full use of coordinated case-handling mechanisms and adopted targeted supervision at different levels to address the scattered distribution and cross-regional nature of Long March heritage. The efforts aim to promote more standardized and sustainable protection.
The SPP also stressed the importance of following up on rectification after procuratorial recommendations are issued. When administrative authorities fail to adequately address identified problems, prosecutors may file administrative public interest lawsuits to ensure that their protection responsibilities are fulfilled.
One case involved historical sites along the Central Red Traffic Line in Longyan, Fujian province. Established in the early 1930s, the route connected Shanghai with Hong Kong, Guangdong, Fujian and Ruijin in Jiangxi province, serving as a vital channel for transporting personnel, supplies and intelligence.
Longyan has 60 historical sites associated with the route, some of which had suffered structural damage and inadequate maintenance.
Prosecutors initiated supervision after identifying problems with the sites' protection. Local cultural authorities subsequently drew up a conservation plan and allocated 3.61 million yuan ($539,000) for restoration work at 38 sites, eliminating 29 major safety hazards.
However, restoration work at one site in Yongding district proceeded slowly. After prosecutors opened a case against the local township government in April 2024, they issued a procuratorial recommendation in March 2025. The government neither responded to the recommendation nor completed the required rectification.
The Yongding district procuratorate filed an administrative public interest lawsuit in May 2025. During the proceedings, the township government formulated and implemented a restoration plan. The project was completed and passed inspection in September, prompting the court to terminate the proceedings.
The SPP said the case demonstrated how litigation can be used when earlier supervisory measures fail to achieve effective rectification.
Another case in Dahua Yao autonomous county in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region involved Red Army sites and the legacy of Huang Mianchang, a Red Army commander killed during the Battle of Xiangjiang in 1934.
Prosecutors found unauthorized structures within protected areas, unclear heritage signage and factual errors in local exhibitions. Following consultations and procuratorial recommendations, relevant departments removed the unauthorized structures, corrected the exhibition content and established an inspection mechanism involving county, township and village authorities.
Beyond addressing specific problems, prosecutors are also seeking to promote the active use of Long March-related cultural heritage, integrating preservation with education and the transmission of revolutionary traditions, the SPP said.
In Dahua, Huang's story has been incorporated into local school education, and a youth study base focused on the Long March spirit has been established. Local authorities have also begun exploring ways to integrate revolutionary heritage with cultural and tourism development.
The SPP said prosecutors will continue to strengthen supervision, follow up on rectification results and promote a shift from resolving individual cases to coordinated, systematic protection of Long March-related cultural heritage.
