In 1959, artist Li Keran created the painting "The Long March."

The Long March was an epic military maneuver by Chinese Communist forces that would lead to their eventual triumph.

In 1934, a much larger Kuomintang force had surrounded the Communists in Jiangxi - a province in southeastern China.

The Chinese Red Army broke through, beginning a 12,500 kilometer (7,767 mile) tactical retreat, the "longest continuous march in the history of warfare."

The Red Army engaged Kuomintang forces in hundreds of skirmishes along the way, repelling the enemy each time.

Communist troops and their leaders forded more than 100 rivers, scaled more than 20 snow-capped mountains and crossed treacherous marshlands.

By the time they reached North Central China and the city of Yan'an – they had traversed 14 provinces.

Li Keran painted "The Long March" based on a poem by Mao Zedong.

The painting uses different techniques to depict near vertical peaks scaled by the troops.

The red flags show them marching single file on treacherous mountain trails.

The sacrifices made during "The Long March" have inspired generations of Chinese, including Xi Jinping.

In his 2019 visit to Jiangxi province where the march began, President Xi compared China's path toward "national rejuvenation" as a "new Long March."

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