As a vital component of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, the Hongyan Spirit plays a significant role in enhancing cultural confidence and building a strong socialist culture. The Hongyan Spirit emerged during the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Liberation War, forged by the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in the complex political environment of Chongqing. Existing research has primarily focused on its historical context, theoretical connotations, and macro-level value, while systematic empirical investigation into differences in its inheritance across generational groups remains scarce. This gap constitutes the core breakthrough point of exploration in this study. Grounded in Marxist theory, this research adopts a framework of “Tracing Origins-Empirical Testing-Sustainable Development,” integrating theories of collective memory and value identity. Valid samples covering three generational cohorts—those born in the 1960s, 1980s, and 2000s—were collected via questionnaires. Combining quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study aims to reveal the characteristics of Hongyan Spirit inheritance across these three generations and address issues such as intergenerational cognitive differences, limitations in transmission channels, and innovative inheritance among the post-2000s cohort. Survey data indicate that the intergenerational transmission of the Hongyan Spirit remains generally coherent without disruption. However, certain groups exhibit vague or lacking emotional and value identification with the spirit, and the channels of transmission are relatively concentrated with regional cognitive limitations. The post-2000s cohort, as a key group in this inheritance process, leverages technological advantages to innovate transmission methods and promote spiritual iteration through participatory co-creation. Most respondents acknowledge the contemporary practical value of the Hongyan Spirit. Academically, this study provides a new perspective for empirical research on the intergenerational transmission of the Hongyan Spirit and enriches the comparative study of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists. In practice, by innovating educational dissemination, enriching social practices, and activating theoretical research, it helps the Hongyan Spirit overcome the dual challenges of historical nihilism and media content risks, thereby serving as a spiritual source uniting the forces for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.