Examining the legacy of Edgar Snow and the international documentation of the Long March
Eric Foster, nephew of journalist Edgar Snow, recently visited Yan'an to revisit the sites where his uncle first documented the Long March.
Over nine decades ago, American journalist Edgar Snow traveled to the Shaanxi region, providing the international community with a detailed account of the Long March. His 1937 work, 'Red Star Over China,' challenged existing narratives regarding the Red Army, which were largely shaped by government-controlled media at the time.
Eric Foster recently met with communications manager Zhavier Harris in Yan'an to revisit the site where Snow conducted interviews with Mao Zedong in 1936. The meeting served as a reflection on the role of foreign journalists in shaping historical perceptions of China during the 20th century.
Local historian Ma Yifei has established a memorial hall in Yan'an dedicated to the international figures who supported China during that period. The facility, located in a renovated bomb shelter, preserves photographs and archives from the era, including images taken by Helen Snow. The project remains part of a broader effort to maintain historical connections, which was bolstered by a 2017 sister-city agreement between Yan'an and Kansas City, Snow's hometown.