Four women soldiers: Chen Congying, Cai Chang, Xia Ming and Liu Ying (L-R). [File photo from cpcnews.cn]

Moreover, the women had to overcome the pain that came during their menstrual periods. As the troops had to keep moving and battled along their way, the women had to forge ahead despite the pain.

Food was also a huge problem in the Long March. Bark, grassroots, and even leather shoes were consumed, and the female soldiers had tasted almost everything they could put into their mouth, driven by hunger.