The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival. It is believed to have a history of about 2, 500 years. Over the centuries, Chinese people have developed colorful traditions, including flying kites, eating cold food and going on spring outings. The most important tradition of the festival is sweeping tombs (扫墓) .
The Qingming Festival usually falls on April 4 or 5. It falls on April 4 this year. On April 3, a middle school in Guyuan, Ningxia held a special activity for students —a 54-kilometer hike to Renshanhe Martyr Cemetery (任山河烈士陵园) . At 4: 30 in the morning, more than 2, 000 teachers and students set off from the starting point. They hiked for 27 kilometers until they reached Renshanhe Martyr Cemetery. When they arrived there, they swept tombs and offered flowers to pay respects to the revolutionary martyrs (革命烈士) . Then they returned 27 kilometers to where they started at 7: 30 p. m.
Starting in 1995, the 54-kilometer hike is a traditional ideological and political class (思政课) of the school. "We hope students can not only learn about the revolutionary martyrs from books, but also experience and touch history on the spot (实地) ," the school's headmaster said.
"Although it has been a difficult trip, I would like to say that what I did is very meaningful." said Zhao Mingyu, a student from Grade 8. "I deeply realized that we can't live a happy life today without the revolutionary martyrs. "
