The Long March (Chinese: 长征; pinyin: Chángzhēng; lit. 'Long Expedition') was a military retreat by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Red Army from advancing Kuomintang (KMT) National Revolutionary Army during the Chinese Civil War, occurring between October 1934 and October 1935. About 100,000 troops retreated from the Jiangxi Soviet and other bases to a new headquarters in Yan'an, Shaanxi, travelling approximately 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles). About 8,000 troops ultimately survived the Long March.
After the defeat of the Red Army in Chiang Kai-shek's Fifth Encirclement Campaign, on 10 October 1934 the CCP decided to abandon its Jiangxi Soviet and headquarters in Ruijin, Jiangxi. The First Front Red Army of some 86,000 troops headed west, traveling over the rugged terrain of China's western provinces, including eastern Tibet. The Red Army broke several of Chiang's blockades with heavy losses, and by the time it crossed the Xiang River on 1 December had only 36,000 men left. Its leaders, including Comintern military adviser Otto Braun and Moscow-trained Bo Gu, decided to take the troops through Hunan, but Chiang set up defenses to block their way. Mao Zedong, who was not a member of the Politburo, suggested going through Guizhou instead, which was accepted. On New Year's Day 1935, the Red Army crossed the Wu River, and a week later held the Zunyi Conference, which reduced Soviet influence in the Politburo and established Mao's position as de facto leader.
Employing guerrilla warfare, Mao maneuvered to avoid direct confrontation with Chiang's forces and led the Red Army out of encirclements by local warlords. The First Front Army met the Fourth Front Army, led by Zhang Guotao, in Maogong, Sichuan; they disagreed on the route to take to Yan'an and split up. The First Front Army arrived in Yan'an on 19 October 1935 with about 8,000 survivors, ending the Long March. The Fourth Front Army was largely destroyed by Chiang and Ma clique attacks, and its remnants joined the Second Front Army led by He Long. All three armies met on 22 October 1936.
Mao's leadership during the retreat brought him immense prestige and support among many within the otherwise-shattered Communist Party. It marked the beginning of his long ascent to primacy, and would be featured heavily in his public image, through the founding of the People's Republic.
23 July 1921: The Chinese Communist Party is formally founded.
1928: The CCP's Red Army is founded, concentrated in Jiangxi and Fujian.
7 November 1931: The Jiangxi–Fujian Soviet is founded by Mao Zedong and Zhu De in the capital of Ruijin, as the first member of the Chinese Soviet Republic.
December 1931: Zhou Enlai arrives in Ruijin, replacing Mao as political commissar of the Red Army.
October 1932: At the Ningdu Conference, the majority of Red Army leaders criticize Mao's tactics. Mao is demoted to a figurehead status.
1933: Bo Gu and Otto Braun arrive from the USSR, reorganize the Red Army, and take control of Party affairs. Four successive encirclement campaigns by the Nationalists are defeated.
25 September 1933: The Fifth Encirclement Campaign begins, with Bo and Braun eventually defeated in October 1934.
10 October 1934: The First Red Army, consisting of 130,000 soldiers and civilians led by Bo and Braun, begins the Long March, departing from Yudu in Jiangxi.
30 November–25 December 1934: The First Army fights the Nationalists at the Battle of Xiang River.
15–17 January: The leadership of Bo and Braun is denounced at the Zunyi Conference. Zhou becomes the most powerful person in the Party, with Mao becoming Zhou's assistant.
March: The Fourth Red Army under Zhang Guotao departs from its base on the Sichuan–Shaanxi border.
29 April–9 May: The First Army crosses the Jinsha River, the upper stretches of the Yangtze.
22 May: The Red Army forms an alliance with the Yi people.
29 May: The First Army captures Luding Bridge.