Which obstacles did Chinese communist forces face during the Long March?

During the Long March (1934–1935), Chinese communist forces faced severe obstacles that nearly led to their destruction. These challenges included:

• Military Conflict: The communists were relentlessly pursued by Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek. They endured constant ground attacks and aerial bombardment, particularly during the first three months of the journey, which resulted in the loss of more than half of their army.1
• Geographic Barriers: To reach their destination in Shaanxi, the troops had to traverse 18 mountain ranges and 24 rivers, navigating difficult terrain under extreme pressure.1
• Hardship and Attrition: Beyond combat, the marchers suffered from widespread starvation and disease. These factors, combined with military losses, decimated their ranks; of the 86,000 troops who began the trek from the Jiangxi Soviet, only about 8,000 remained when Mao Zedong arrived at the final destination in October 1935.1
• Internal Power Struggles: The leadership faced significant internal friction, most notably a power struggle between Mao and Zhang Guotao in northern Sichuan, which caused the communist forces to split temporarily.1