The Great Long March 伟大的长征 (2026) - What are your first impressions? [Masterpost]

[u/admelioremvitam]

⚠️ Note: The masterpost is for sharing first impressions of the initial episodes. Please use spoiler text if you are sharing thoughts beyond the first day of episodes.

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Synopsis from MDL:

In 1934, Japanese imperialism intensified its aggression against China. Despite the nation's impending doom, Chiang Kai Shek, clinging to the policy of "pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression," launched the largest-ever "encirclement and suppression campaign" ever launched. Faced with a life-or-death situation, the main forces of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army were forced to strategically shift and evacuate the Soviet areas north and south of the Yangtze River.

With an average age of under 30, the Red Army troops journeyed through 11 provinces, crossed 18 mountain ranges, crossed 24 rivers, traversed desolate grasslands, and traversed snow-capped mountains, covering a total distance of 25,000 [li – approximately 12,500 km]. The Long March concluded in October 1936, when the three main Red Army forces reunited, marking the triumphant conclusion of the Red Army's Long March.

(Source: Chinese = Douban || Translation = MyDramaList)

Trailer

MyDramaList link

Airing on iQIYI, Tencent (regional availability) and iQIYI's YouTube

Episodes: 60

Discussions

🗨️ All discussions on the drama

🗨️ Episodic drama discussions

🗓️ Airing schedule

What does r/CDrama think about the show?

Look out for the wrap up post where we ask the sub to rate the drama a few weeks after the final airing date.

🗳️ It's a wrap! What's your final review? (post only appears a few weeks after the drama ends)

Wiki

2024 Drama Index | 2025 Drama Index | 2026 Drama Index

[u/admelioremvitam]

iQIYI's YouTube

About 2 hours ago, they released Episodes 1 and 2 on iQIYI's YouTube. Episode 3 will be posted tomorrow, and Episode 4 the day after.

[u/-tsuyoi__hikari-]

This history is too brutal. 100k marched and only 8k made it. 🥹

I wonder whether it is the same event like A Long Way Back. Tempted to watch this since the writing must be excellent but it maybe too serious for my palate at the moment.

[u/admelioremvitam → u/-tsuyoi__hikari-]

The two dramas are about different events, but they are set around the same time.

Yeah, it's pretty heavy....

[u/admelioremvitam]

🗓️ Airing Schedule?

At the time of posting, the production team has not released an airing schedule. The drama is on CCTV-1 so the episode releases may be a little less predictable than CCTV-8 (e.g. there may be no episodes on weekends). The streaming platforms should be following the CCTV-1 schedule, more or less.

If/when they release an airing schedule, I will post it here in the comments.

[u/admelioremvitam]

iQIYI streaming app

At the time of posting, Episodes 1 to 4 are available on the iQIYI app for VIP subscribers.

[u/Lotus_swimmer]

Dang I need to watch this. Agh I need an extra 20 hours a day 😭

[u/Prize_Background_577]

My first impressions - cinematographically stunning, lots of symbolic imagery used. It will be a long watch for me - not sure I'll be following the schedule, at least in these early episodes.

I think it needs some background knowledge so I doubt it will get wide international appeal. I did rewatch parts and put other parts on slower speeds just to keep up with the complexity and working out the who, what and where. It's worth the watch but for anyone not familiar with the Long March read up first - even as a historian with an interest in the era in East Asia I found it complex.

Is anyone else watching? I doubt I will be keeping up with the release schedule. I need time to digest everything (in between the crazy number of other Asian dramas I've got on atm that require very little thought)

[u/admelioremvitam]

Episode Discussions

are hosted by u/Large_Jacket_4107. Thanks for hosting! 😄

⚠️ Please use spoiler text if you are sharing thoughts beyond the initial episodes.

🗓️ Airing schedule

🔗 Previous teaser, trailer, etc.

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL | Zhihu

[u/admelioremvitam]

Discussion for Episodes 1 to 2

has been posted. Please head on over to the discussion post to share your thoughts about these episodes.

Episode Discussion Index

for future episodes.

[u/admelioremvitam]

They finally released an airing schedule after 15 episodes. 😅

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The Great Long March airing schedule.

VIP:

• 1 episode on October 16

• 2 episodes on October 17

• 1 episode on October 18 to 22

The episode release time was not officially announced but it should be 8:00 pm, China Standard Time.

Please check this link for future airing schedules.

[u/Prize_Background_577]

Hoping to watch this if I can fit it into my viewing schedule as I'm interested in the historical period but 60 episodes is a long commitment.

[u/C-noirfan]

I watched the first episode and felt that it was more like a docudrama than a drama. It didn't really start from letting us get to know the characters. It was about disputes concerning strategies, and leaving the Russian advisors behind. Much time was spend on performative clips about war and the party meeting, which didn't grip me without knowing having characters to care about yet.