[Photo by Erik Nilsson/China Daily]

His grandfather was among them.

"So, these pines are all that's left of them," he says, waving his hand toward the trees.

These soldiers no longer live there. But their stories do. And they draw travelers interested in China's revolutionary history.

Hua Shuilin, whose grandfather also joined the Red Army, says the development of tourism and industrialized agriculture generated enabled his family and neighbors to relocate from overcrowded, rustic and dilapidated residential compounds into modern three-story homes in 2015.

"There was barely enough food when I was growing up," the farmer says.

"If there was a little bit of rice, the adults would leave it for us. Otherwise, we ate course grain. We only ate meat during festivals, when the whole village would share one pig."

The ramshackle earthen compound he moved out of has been preserved for education and tourism. Internet celebrities visit the site to shoot livestreams and short videos.

Huawu totally eradicated extreme poverty in 2018, Huang says.

Villagers agree this is, ultimately, a living legacy of the 17 young men who died more than eight decades ago.

"Our forefathers joined the army to fight for a better life for future generations," he says.

"Without their blood and sacrifice, we wouldn't be where we are now. Life, for us, is getting better every day."

Zuo Zhuo contributed to the story.