澳大利亚汉学家魏华德第三次重走长征路

在红军长征胜利90周年之际，澳大利亚汉学家魏华德（Harold Weldon）用约两周时间重访中国四川的部分长征路段 1。此次行程源于其父亲凯文生前的遗愿，希望他在这一特殊节点再次踏上这条路 1。回顾与中国的深厚渊源，魏华德早在1985年便以19岁之龄随父亲首次来华，沿红军长征路线进行考察拍摄 1。

为纪念长征胜利50周年，魏华德于1986年出版画册《中国——长征》，该作品被译成20多种语言，全球售出约15万册 1。2011年，他又推出续作《中国——新长征》，专门记录长征沿线的发展变迁 1。在本次重走途中，魏华德深刻感受到沿途基础设施的巨大变化，他感叹夹金山隧道让翻越雪山的时间从过去的数日缩短至驾车穿越仅需约10分钟 1。此外，他还与昔日结识的中国朋友重逢，并强调通过民间交流讲述真实中国故事的重要性 1。对于这段经历，魏华德表示：“如果你想要真正读懂今天的中国，你就必须去了解长征故事与长征精神。” 1

Australian sinologist Harold Weldon has returned to China for the third time to retrace the route of the Red Army’s Long March, marking the 90th anniversary of its victory. This latest journey lasted approximately two weeks and covered sections of the Long March route in Sichuan 1. Weldon’s father, Kevin, passed away several years ago, but his final wish was for his son to walk this path again on this significant historical milestone 1.

Weldon’s deep connection with China began in 1985 when, at the age of 19, he accompanied his father along the historic Long March route for inspection and photography 1. Their efforts culminated in the 1986 publication of the photo album China – The Long March, commemorating the event's 50th anniversary; the book was translated into more than 20 languages and sold around 150,000 copies globally 1. In 2011, Weldon released a sequel titled China – The New Long March, detailing the subsequent development and changes along the original route 1.

During his recent visit, Weldon highlighted the dramatic transformation of infrastructure, noting specifically that the construction of the Jiajin Mountain Tunnel has reduced the time required to cross the snowy peak from several days to merely about ten minutes by car 1. He also reunited with Chinese friends he had met during his earlier expeditions 1. Reflecting on the enduring significance of the event, Weldon stated, "If you want to truly understand today’s China, you must learn the story of the Long March and its spirit," emphasizing the vital role of people-to-people exchanges in presenting an authentic narrative of the country 1.