Modern Chinese History Index

The turbulent years since the founding of the People's Republic of China have been documented by many writers in our magazines. Since our foundation in 1965 the unravelling of modern Chinese history has been carefully recorded in a range of articles. For articles covering the full historical time scale please see our History index.

Chinese history 1949-1989 - The People's Republic of China

The Fall of Lin Biao Lin Biao was for a time Chairman Mao's chosen successor, his fall from grace and death marks an important step in modern Chinese history.

Slogans The slogan is a potent political instrument still widely used in China.

Deng Xiaoping in France A number of the first leaders of the PRC spent time in France. This article chronicles Deng Xiaoping's stay there in the 1920s

Deng Xiaoping obituary The life and achievements of Deng Xiaoping, Chinese leader 1977-1997

Major Events A timeline of all the major domestic and international events in the first forty years of the P.R.C. from 1949 to 1989.

Industrial Development A key time in the development of modern Chinese Industry was the 1970s.

Technological Development Joseph Needham traces the technological development from earliest times to the 1970s.

Times Past A selection of newsletter articles from the early days of SACU in the 1960s and 1970s.

First Tourists Experience of UK travellers to China when the country began to open up to limited visitors in the 1970s.

The Great Leap Forward How the aggressive policy of the late 1950s led to the death of millions in the disastrous famine years 1959-1961.

Chairman Mao obituary Viewing Mao as a philosopher, this unconventional portrayal was written soon after Mao's death in 1976.

Agnes Smedley - American friend of China Chronicling the extra-ordinary life and times of commited supported of the P.R.C..

Jewish community in China Survey of the little known 'YouTai' community in China.

Mao suits Many of our archive photographs show the Chinese wearing the same 'uniform'. This article probes attitudes to dress.

Mao badges Just as everyone wore mao suits the indispensable accessory was a Mao badge.

Cultural Revolution Witness Very few Westerners got to see the Cultural Revolution at first hand. It was not all as bad as many now think.

Transforming the rural economy The background to the liberation of the rural workers from effective slavery under the landlords.

Learning from Dazhai Heralded as the example for all villages to follow, the pioneering, communist spirit of Dazhai was an important part of Mao's vision of new China.

Reflections on China 1933-1999 Surveying the dramatic changes in China over sixty years seen through a British visitors eyes.

China in the last twenty years

Modern attitudes to music Traditional and modern music now heard all over China.

Changing attitudes to education Teaching in China has now changed to embrace modern methods.

Nanjing modernization Industrialization of China's 'second' capital of Nanjing.

Chinese car industry The development of the automobile industry in China.

The Fall of Lin Biao	Lin Biao was for a time Chairman Mao's chosen successor, his fall from grace and death marks an important step in modern Chinese history.
Slogans	The slogan is a potent political instrument still widely used in China.
Deng Xiaoping in France	A number of the first leaders of the PRC spent time in France. This article chronicles Deng Xiaoping's stay there in the 1920s
Deng Xiaoping obituary	The life and achievements of Deng Xiaoping, Chinese leader 1977-1997
Major Events	A timeline of all the major domestic and international events in the first forty years of the P.R.C. from 1949 to 1989.
Industrial Development	A key time in the development of modern Chinese Industry was the 1970s.
Technological Development	Joseph Needham traces the technological development from earliest times to the 1970s.
Times Past	A selection of newsletter articles from the early days of SACU in the 1960s and 1970s.
First Tourists	Experience of UK travellers to China when the country began to open up to limited visitors in the 1970s.
The Great Leap Forward	How the aggressive policy of the late 1950s led to the death of millions in the disastrous famine years 1959-1961.
Chairman Mao obituary	Viewing Mao as a philosopher, this unconventional portrayal was written soon after Mao's death in 1976.
Agnes Smedley - American friend of China	Chronicling the extra-ordinary life and times of commited supported of the P.R.C..
Jewish community in China	Survey of the little known 'YouTai' community in China.
Mao suits	Many of our archive photographs show the Chinese wearing the same 'uniform'. This article probes attitudes to dress.
Mao badges	Just as everyone wore mao suits the indispensable accessory was a Mao badge.
Cultural Revolution Witness	Very few Westerners got to see the Cultural Revolution at first hand. It was not all as bad as many now think.
Transforming the rural economy	The background to the liberation of the rural workers from effective slavery under the landlords.
Learning from Dazhai	Heralded as the example for all villages to follow, the pioneering, communist spirit of Dazhai was an important part of Mao's vision of new China.
Reflections on China 1933-1999	Surveying the dramatic changes in China over sixty years seen through a British visitors eyes.

Modern attitudes to music	Traditional and modern music now heard all over China.
Changing attitudes to education	Teaching in China has now changed to embrace modern methods.
Nanjing modernization	Industrialization of China's 'second' capital of Nanjing.
Chinese car industry	The development of the automobile industry in China.