'Red Tourism': Millions make pilgrimage to China for CCP Centennial

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, and the country is seeing a rush of tourists to historic sites.

Lu Yongzheng, a local Chinese official, has said that in the first quarter of 2021 tourism has already returned to 2019 levels, according to the Associate Press.

The tourist boom comes as President Xi Jinping announced a push to educate all Chinese citizens on the history and legacy of the Chinese Communist Party.

So far in 2021, millions have attended tours, events and museums dedicated to the history of the Chinese Civil War and the struggle of the Communist Party for power over the nationalists. Museums have seen major growth in ticket sales and patronage since the education campaign and the centennial year has started.

All this leads up to July 1, the actual day that the anniversary is celebrated on in China. On July 1, China will host events across the country including plays, concerts, exhibitions, films and awards for notable and long time members.

"Red Tourism" is a specific term that refers to Chinese people travelling internally throughout China to visit historic sights relating to the rise of Communism in China. Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China is regarded as a God-like figure and people come to worship locations where important events took place like the Yangtze river.

Mao's swim across the Yangtze river marked the beginning of China's "Great Leap Forward", Mao's push to drive China from a rural farming country to the industrial powerhouse it is today. In all, at least 55 million people died during the Great Leap Forward due to many factors including collectivization of agriculture causing famine.

President Jinping continues to rule with an iron first. The country has its own internal internet that censors Western sites, and China leads the world in executions, as well.