Beginning in August 2003, Zhang Diangui and his wife rode a Jialing 70 motorcycle from the Hulunbuir Grass to the starting point of the Long March, Yudu County of Jiangxi Province,  to celebrate its 70th anniversary. This is the third time Zhang has followed the route of the march, and he is the oldest person to do so on so many occasions.

The first time Zhang followed the route of the march was in September 1995. After he retired at the age of 57, greatly impressed by the spirit of sacrifice and perseverance displayed on the march by the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, Zhang decided to retrace the stepsof the Red Army. That October, he arrived in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province. After the visiting "the first ferry of the Long March"in Yudu County, he bought a bicycle and began his "long march" from Yudu. Along the road where the Red Army has travelled and passing through over 100 cities and counties over a period of 10-and-a-half months, he finished his 25,000 li long march. The second time he set off on the route of the Long March was in October 2001, completing the march upon his arrival in Wuqi, Shaanxi Province in October 2001 after 11 months on the road.

The reporter was really surprised when he saw Zhang Diangui and his wife Wang Zhongqin, as she appears to be slightly handicapped. Wang Zhongqin said that this is because of rheumatoid arthritis. When mentioning the reason for her to travel the long march route with Zhang Diankui, she said that she didn't want to go at the very beginning, but later on, she felt that it was very meaningful.

They planned to spend 18 months covering the 25, 000 li distance. But they had a traffic accident, which made them arrive late inYudu, the starting place of the Long March. Currently, they are still on the way. They set four objectives for their journey: 1. Distribute 5,000 copies of Long March publicity materials, write 20 pieces of Long March-related articles and develop the "LongMarch spirit", 2. Collect two pieces of representative calligraphy and painting in each county and city, host calligraphy and painting exhibition along the Long March route and publicize the Long March culture; 3. Collect Long March historical material and pictures and establish the "Hulunbuir Long March Cultural Room"; 4. Establish contacts with nearly one hundred counties andcities along the Long March route and strengthen communication and understanding between the people of Hulunbuir and peoplein theold liberated areas.