Young guides bring Ruijin's textbook history to life

In 1950, locals repaired the well and erected a marker bearing the words: "When drinking water, remember the person who dug the well; always remember Chairman Mao." The story later entered primary school textbooks and became a shared childhood memory for generations of Chinese.

In Ruijin, educators have also sought to take such stories beyond the page.

Xiong Min, principal of China Huarong Ruijin Hope Primary School, said she began involving students in activities related to local revolutionary history in 2001. Even as she moved between schools, she continued bringing the practice with her. "When children tell the stories themselves, they can really understand the spirit behind them," Xiong said.

She has also seen the experience affect students beyond history lessons. Taking part in storytelling and performances, she said, has helped some children become more independent, communicate better with others, and persevere when they encounter difficulties.

The effort has since developed into a broader partnership between schools and the Ruijin Central Revolutionary Base Area Memorial Hall. In 2014, the memorial hall launched a youth education program known as Hong Haizi, or Red Children, to train students to tell revolutionary stories through guided tours, performances, and other activities. The program now works with more than 20 local primary and secondary schools, bringing students from classrooms into the historical sites around them.