Wang Quanying at 105: The last living veteran of China's Long March

By Harsh Thakor* 

On June 25, 2026, Wang Quanying, believed to be the last surviving veteran of China's historic Long March, celebrated her 105th birthday in Sichuan Province. The occasion was marked by a tribute that bridged history and memory: she was presented with two digitally restored portraits depicting her as a teenage Red Army soldier. Smiling warmly at the images, Wang gave a thumbs-up, a simple gesture that reflected a life shaped by extraordinary hardship, resilience and commitment.

Born in 1921 in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, Wang joined the Chinese Red Army at the age of 14 in 1935. She served as a nurse and logistics assistant with the Fourth Front Army, carrying out essential but often overlooked duties that sustained the Communist forces during one of the most challenging military retreats in modern history. Her responsibilities included caring for wounded soldiers, transporting grain, guiding troops through difficult terrain and supporting frontline operations.

Wang's life mirrors the experiences of thousands of young men and women who participated in the Long March, an event that profoundly shaped modern Chinese history. For the Chinese Communist Party, the march remains a defining symbol of endurance, sacrifice and revolutionary determination.

The Long March was an epic strategic retreat undertaken by Communist forces between 1934 and 1936 as they escaped encirclement by Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek. Covering approximately 12,500 kilometres across some of China's harshest landscapes, the Red Army crossed 18 mountain ranges and 24 rivers while enduring freezing temperatures, starvation, disease and relentless military attacks. The campaign culminated in the convergence of the three main Red Army forces in Huining, Gansu Province, in October 1936 after hundreds of engagements.

Although militarily a retreat, the Long March became a political turning point. During the journey, Mao Zedong consolidated his leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, particularly following the Zunyi Conference in 1935. After reaching Yan'an, the Communists established a new revolutionary base from which they rebuilt their organisation, developed their political strategy and eventually emerged victorious in the Chinese Civil War.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March's successful conclusion. Earlier this month, soldiers of the People's Liberation Army visited Wang at her home in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. Dressed in her old Red Army uniform, the centenarian returned their salute, drawing admiration from younger generations of soldiers who regard her as a living link to a defining chapter of China's revolutionary past.

Among the gifts presented on her birthday were two portraits created by teachers and students from the National University of Defense Technology and the Communication University of Zhejiang. One depicted Wang as a 14-year-old recruit entering the Red Army, while the other portrayed her at 16 after she became separated from her unit during the Long March. The portraits sought to preserve not only her likeness but also the memory of a generation whose experiences are rapidly passing into history.

Wang's wartime service exposed her to immense physical hardship. While crossing snow-covered mountains, she suffered severe frostbite and endured prolonged shortages of food and medical supplies. She also took part in operations that required transporting provisions, assisting wounded comrades and supporting troop movements under extremely difficult conditions.

In the spring of 1936, Wang became separated from her unit during military operations in Danba, Sichuan. Unable to rejoin the Red Army, she settled quietly in Wenchuan County, where she lived for decades without revealing her wartime experiences. It was only in 1984 that Chinese authorities formally verified her identity as a former Red Army soldier and recognised her as a veteran.

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Wang married Liu Fuguang and raised two daughters, insisting that both receive higher education. Despite her own modest circumstances, she remained committed to education and public service.

Official recognition came gradually. In 1984, she received the Certificate for Scattered Red Army Soldiers from the People's Government of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. In 2016, she was awarded the Commemorative Medal marking the 80th anniversary of the Long March's victory, and in 2019 she received the 70th National Day Commemorative Medal from China's top state and military authorities.

After moving to Dujiangyan in 2006, Wang spent her later years at the Wenchuan Cadres' Sanatorium in Longtanwan. Even in old age, she remained active, sewing traditional rush cushions by hand, singing revolutionary songs and participating in public commemorations. She often attributed her longevity to maintaining "a good mindset, eating mostly vegetarian food, having compassion and doing good deeds." In 2022, she appeared in the CCTV documentary Song of the Long March, helping preserve the memories of one of the twentieth century's most remarkable military journeys.

As Wang Quanying reaches 105, she represents more than the last surviving witness to the Long March. Her life offers a rare personal connection to an event that transformed China's political trajectory and continues to occupy a central place in the country's historical consciousness. With each passing year, living memories of that era become increasingly scarce, making Wang's story not only a testament to personal endurance but also an invaluable link to one of modern history's most consequential revolutions.

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*Freelance journalist