From a 'sea of death' to a land of opportunity

Luo Lan first came to Hongyuan in Sichuan province by chance, only to find that its landscape reminded her of Scotland, where she had studied.

In 2021, she visited the county with fellow alumni for a charity project. Having studied in Glasgow, United Kingdom, she felt an immediate connection. The warmth and sincerity of the local people also left a lasting impression.

Located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, Hongyuan county was named in memory of the Long March. Its name evokes the Red Army's crossing of the grasslands.

The grasslands were often described as a "sea of death". "Beneath the flowers lurked bogs that could swallow a man in a minute," wrote Harrison Salisbury in The Long March: The Untold Story.

Today, Hongyuan has numerous monuments and memorial halls commemorating the Red Army. The county has also developed tourism around its expansive grasslands to help farmers and herders increase their incomes.

Luo became part of that transformation. A year after her first visit, while working for a real estate company, she spotted an opportunity to develop a hotel featuring movable wooden cabins.

Elevated on stilts, the structures were designed to minimize damage to the grassland, she said.

Starting with just five rooms, the hotel quickly gained popularity, with bookings filling up throughout its first travel season.

"The land attracts travelers from far and wide who want to experience a slower pace of life," Luo said. "Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, they can enjoy the vastness and tranquility of the grasslands, the wind, the starry sky and the sunset."

When her company eventually withdrew from the project, Luo decided to strike out on her own, launching a business in 2023. Her homestay in Xiahalama village now has four two-story wooden cabins, four single-story cabins, two space-capsule rooms and five steel-framed houses. It welcomes about 4,000 guests annually.

Next door, Luo has opened Chi Yun Qu, or Cloud-Eating, a cafe combining Tibetan aesthetics with contemporary design. It attracts around 16,000 visitors a year. Its signature Butter Latte blends Tibetan butter with Italian espresso, while the latte art features traditional Tibetan patterns.

Sonam Rizgin, a village official in Xiahalama, said that visitors come from across China and overseas.

The peak season runs from May to October, with July and August the busiest months. The business employs 21 villagers, while students return during school holidays to work part time.

Tourism brings the village about 400,000 yuan ($59,965) in annual income, he said.

Hongyuan county was lifted out of poverty in 2020. Chen Zhimin, a county publicity official, noted that entrepreneurs from outside the area like Luo not only help raise villagers' incomes but also bring fresh ideas to local communities.

"They bring new media skills, create immersive experiences around nomadic culture and find ways to combine tradition with contemporary lifestyles," Chen said.

The county has also organized equestrian competitions and music festivals to strengthen its appeal as a tourist destination. During festivals, daily coffee sales can exceed 10,000 yuan and accommodation is fully booked, Chen added.

Other destinations along the Long March route have also gained popularity. Jiajin Mountain, the first major snowcapped mountain crossed by the Red Army, has become a favorite among hiking enthusiasts.

Songpan county, another area crossed by the Red Army, received 10.64 million tourist visits in 2025, up 15.53 percent.

Tourism spending reached 31.81 billion yuan. Improved infrastructure and transport links have helped drive the growth.

Aba is now connected to China's national rail network, while two airports serve the region's grasslands. Hongyuan Airport, opened in 2014, is about an hour's drive from Luo's homestay.

"The altitude is high, and the temperature difference can reach 40 C. It starts hailing in September, so you can imagine how difficult it was for the Red Army," Luo said. "Conditions are much better today. We have underfloor heating, plenty of food and even tropical fruits."

In her cafe, Luo keeps a collection of books for guests, including several on the Long March.

Reflecting on the past, she said: "Today, we enjoy peace and sit here sipping coffee. Isn't this exactly what they hoped to see during the Long March?"

XINHUA