Only Yan'an can be called "Return to Yan'an"!

The end of the first stage of the 2025 Third Silk Road Rally is Yan'an in northern Shaanxi. There is a saying: going to other places, you can say "go where" or "go to where," but only for Yan'an can you say "return to Yan'an"! Why is that?

From a historical perspective, Yan'an is the holy land of the Chinese revolution. During the revolutionary war years, countless passionate young people and revolutionaries rushed to Yan'an, pursuing ideals and strengthening their faith, striving for national independence and people's liberation. Yan'an became their spiritual home and source of strength. Thus, the use of the word "return" reflects deep affection and a strong sense of belonging to this land, as if Yan'an is the final destination of their souls, a place they long to return to no matter how far they go.

From a cultural and emotional perspective, Yan'an gave birth to the great Yan'an Spirit, which represents many precious qualities such as hard struggle, self-reliance, and seeking truth from facts. These spirits have been deeply integrated into the spiritual bloodline of the Chinese nation. "Returning to Yan'an" expresses a sense of inheritance and pursuit, a remembrance of those years, and a cultural root-seeking and emotional return with respect and deep feeling. Therefore, it has a unique significance. This year's Silk Road Rally brought over a hundred participants from all over the country "back" to Yan'an to experience the warmth of Yan'an 1938 Block and learn about the historical stories of the Lu Yi Cultural Park.

Yan'an 1938 Block Ignites the Passion of SS1 Stage

At the welcome ceremony for the finish of the SS1 stage of the Silk Road Rally, carefully prepared at Yan'an 1938 Block, the stage originally featuring intangible cultural heritage performances unexpectedly witnessed a touching twist. When the colorful yangge dance troupe gracefully danced, folk singers sang loudly, and northern Shaanxi storytelling artists plucked the sanxian, the drivers who had just finished the race suddenly ignited with enthusiasm: they crowded around the yangge dancers and started to dance impromptu, vied to take selfies with the storytellers, and even solemnly presented the roses given by the Linxia City Fenglin Cultural Tourism Group at the starting ceremony to the actors whose costumes were soaked with sweat. This warm transmission that began on the competitive track and spanned several provinces unfolded a vivid narrative of "the roses in her hand, the flavor in mine" on the loess plateau—amid the roar of racing engines, cultural heritage and sports spirit are completing a two-way journey.

Qian Nille from the Bayannur Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television, as the cultural tourism promotion officer of this event, naturally did not miss the opportunity to promote her hometown and went on stage to show her dancing skills. Liu Jinglong, Deputy General Manager of the Yan'an Company of Shaanxi Cultural Investment Group, who is in charge of Yan'an 1938 Block, seized this cooperation opportunity and planned to help Yan'an and Bayannur jointly develop tourism products and exchange tourists.

Bayannur Cultural Tourism Promotion Officer Qian Nille Performs a Dance

The year 2025 marks the 90th anniversary of the Central Red Army's arrival in northern Shaanxi. Therefore, Yan'an 1938 Block arranged for all participants of this Silk Road Rally to watch the 4D movie "A Liang's Long March." The film, from the perspective of the young boy A Liang, depicts the arduous and magnificent journey of the Red Army's Long March and expresses an unremitting pursuit of ideals and beliefs. The Silk Road Rally, with its over 8,000-kilometer course and cultural tourism derivative activities, is equally breathtaking. Over 20 days, the participants traverse deserts, grasslands, oases, and ancient roads, like a modern version of the Long March. It is not only a profound tempering of themselves and their teams, but also a bridge connecting cultures and friendships across different regions.

Entering Lu Yi, Seeking Resonance in the Artistic Atmosphere

Late at night, the warm light from the arched windows of a row of cave dwellings illuminated the reluctant figures of the participants—the oil lamp by the bed, the small stool beside the desk, the stone table in front of the door... The atmosphere of time instantly filled the air. Staying at the Lu Yi Cave Dwelling Garden allowed everyone to personally feel the ingenious integration of traditional northern Shaanxi cave dwellings with modern life, as if they could touch the pulse of history in the ancient tranquility.

The next morning, the participants visited the Yan'an Literature and Art Memorial Hall and the former site of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts and Literature. The precious cultural relics, historical photos, and manuscripts vividly recreated the scenes of literary and artistic workers rooting themselves among the people, immersing in life, and creating a large number of excellent literary and artistic works during the Anti-Japanese War.

Xi'an Cultural Tourism Promotion Officer Xiao Jin Records Yan'an's Red History with Her Camera

Participants Visit Yan'an Literature and Art Memorial Hall

The drivers of the 2025 Third Silk Road Rally challenged themselves and pushed their limits on the Silk Road journey, which echoes the core spirit of the literary and artistic workers of Lu Yi who were not afraid of hardship and persisted in artistic creation—both represent a steadfast adherence to ideals and beliefs.

Participants Arrive at the Former Site of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts and Literature

The cultural tourism promotion officers from Xi'an, Bayannur, Tacheng, and Awati, acting as Silk Road scholars, dancers, musicians, and singers, came to Lu Yi. They not only brought diverse ethnic cultural arts but also echoed the Lu Yi tradition of "literature and art for the people." This reflected the exchange and integration of different ethnic cultures, and also demonstrated the responsibility of literary and artistic workers in the new era to inherit and promote excellent culture. It infused the Lu Yi spirit with new vitality through multicultural collision, further promoting cultural exchange and unity among various ethnic groups.

At the former site where famous musical works such as "Yellow River Cantata" and "Nanniwan" were created and performed, the Tacheng cultural tourism promotion officer Hayilati·Siyazicaike couldn't help playing the accordion and using the song "Little White Poplar" to promote his hometown.

The Cultural Tourism Promotion Officer of the Oil Painting Tacheng Team, Hayilati·Siyazicaike, Couldn't Help Playing the Accordion

In the gentle sunshine and among the swaying willow branches, the intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Ansai waist drum gave an on-site lesson to the participants, bringing an extremely shocking and profound experience.

Awati Cultural Tourism Promotion Officer Biwaxianmu·Maimaiti Learns the Ansai Waist Drum

Bayannur Cultural Tourism Promotion Officer Qian Nille Earnestly Studies the Movement Essentials

Silk Road Rally Referees and Participants Display Red Revolutionary Temperament

The Ansai waist drum is majestic. The intangible cultural heritage inheritor demonstrated the movements with exquisite performance and explained the key points. The participants started from holding the drum and swinging the mallet, learning iconic actions such as leaping and spinning.

In the space of the former site of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts and Literature, full of revolutionary literary and artistic atmosphere, the impassioned drumbeats interwove with the profound historical heritage. The participants could not only feel the bold, unrestrained, and powerful artistic charm of the Ansai waist drum, but also experience the enthusiasm and strength of the northern Shaanxi people through the rhythmic beats. It was as if they were touching the passion and blood of the revolutionary era, achieving a cross-temporal cultural resonance and spiritual baptism.

Tesla—Official Media Vehicle of the 2025 Third Silk Road Rally. Read 112