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Witness History: The birth of the People's Republic of China

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The birth of the People's Republic of China

30/09/2019 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The birth of the People's Republic of China

On 1 October 1949 Chairman Mao declared China a communist state

On 1 October 1949 China was declared a communist state. Zhu Zhende was a young recruit in the People's Liberation Army who marched in the celebration parade in Beijing that day.

On 1 October 1949 Chairman Mao declared China to be a communist state. Zhu Zhende was a young recruit in the People's Liberation Army who marched in the celebrations in Beijing that day. He has been speaking to Yashan Zhao about the optimism and excitement of that time.

Photo: An officer reads a newspaper to soldiers while they are waiting for the announcement of the foundation of the People's Republic of China on Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 in Beijing, China. (Credit: Visual China Group via Getty Images)

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