1949: A Chronicle of a Revolutionary Year in China

Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China, October 1, 1949

From the magazine People's China in January, 1950 a chronology of the great revolutionary year of 1949 that saw the final defeat of the imperialist backed, reactionary Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek and the proclamation of the People's Republic of China by Mao in Beijing on October 1.

Please note that many of the translations of names and places are now considered outdated.

JANUARY

10th. The Hsuehow-Pengpu Area Campaign successfully concluded, with 60,000 KMT troops annihilated.

14th. Chairman Mao Tse-tung issues 8-point terms for peace talks with either the KMT government or local governments.

21st. Chiang Kai-shek announces his "temporary retirement"; his "presidency" succeeded to by Li Tsung-jen.

31st. Peiping Liberated.

FEBRUARY

25th. Cruiser S.S. Chungking with a crew of 450 sneaks out of Shanghai for liberated China.

MARCH

During the middle of the month, the Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, successfully concluded in Shihchiachuang. It is decided in the session that the centre of gravity of the Party's work should be shifted from the countryside to the cities.

1st. The All China Student Congress opens in Peiping, following which, the All China Student Federation is established.

24th. The All China Women's Congress inaugurated in Peiping, following which, the All China Democratic Women's Federation is established.

25th. The CC of the CPC and the HQs of the PLA both move into Peiping.

26th. The CC of the CPC appoints delegation of five members, headed by Chou En-lai for the peace parley beginning April 1; the KMT is notified to send a delegation to Peiping for negotiations.

29th. The China Delegation, headed by Kuo Mo-jo, leaves Peiping for the World Congress for Peace in Paris.

APRIL

1st. 6,000 student demonstrators attacked by KMT troops in Nanking on the day of the departure of the KNIT peace delegation to Peiping; 3 students killed.

1st. Peace negotiations between the delegations of the CPC and the KMT begin in Peiping.

10th. The 1st All China Congress of the New Democratic Youth League attended by 369 delegates inaugurated in Peiping.

15th. Li Tsung-jen, KMT Acting President, refuses to sign the peace agreement drafted during the negotiations in Peiping.

20th. By order of Chairman Mao Tse-tung and C-in-C Chu Teh, three columns of the PLA cross the Yangtze.

20th. British warship "Amethyst" shells the PLA positions during the river-crossing operations.

23rd. The PLA takes Nanking, the capital of KMT government. 3

0th. General Li Tao, spokesman for the HQs of the PLA, issues a statement on the Amethyst Incident, demanding apologies and indemnity from the British government.

MAY

3rd. The PLA takes Hangchow, provincial capital of Chekiang.

4th. The All China Youth Congress opens in Peiping with 430 delegates, following which, the All China Federation of Democratic Youth is established.

16th. Hankow, Hanyang and Wuchang, provincial capital of Hupeh, liberated.

20th. Sian, capital of Shensi Province, liberated.

22nd. Nanchang, provincial capital of Kiangsi, liberated.

27th. Shanghai liberated.

30th. The All China Federation of Labour appoints a delegation of 26 headed by Liu Ning-yi to attend the 2nd World Trade Union Conference to be held in Milan.

JUNE

2nd. Tsingtao, last seaport of the KMT in North China, liberated.

9th. Circulation of foreign currency banned by the Military Control Committee of Shanghai.

15th. The 1st plenary session of the Preparatory Committee for New Political Consultative Conference, attended by 134 members from 23 representative units, inaugurated in Peiping.

19th. After a 6-day meeting of the 1st plenary session of the Preparatory Committee for New PCC, the Organizational Statute of the Committee and the complete list of delegates to the Conference are passed and Standing Committee is elected.

21st. The KMT government declares total "blockade" of the China Coast.

30th. PLA HQs issues communique: 3,050,000 KMT troops annihilated during the 3rd year of the Liberation War (July, 1948 —June, 1949); Liberated Areas enlarged to 2,962,800 square kilometres (more than 30% of China's total area) with a population of 279,274,000 (more than 58% of China's total population); PLA has been expanded to 4,000,000 compared with 1,600,000 KMT troops.

JULY

1st. "On People's Democratic Dictatorship" by Chairman Mao Tse-tung published on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the CPC.

1st. The All China Railway Workers Provisional Conference convened in Peiping.

2nd. Opening in Peiping of First All China Conference of Writers and Artists, following which, the All China Association of Writers and Artists is established.

10th. First through passenger express leaves Peiping for Shanghai.

10th. Chiang Kai-shek arrives at Baguio to confer with E. Quirino, President of the Philippines, to "thrash out mutual problems concerning Communist threat in Asia."

13th. Serious floods in Central and South China.

16th. Ichang and Shasi, vital Yangtze River ports in west Hupeh, liberated.

22nd. China's Delegation to the Second Congress of World Democratic Youth and the World Democratic Youth Festival leaves Peiping for Budapest.

AUGUST

1st. Northeast China and U.S.S.R. Trade Agreement announced.

1st. Changsha, provincial capital of Hunan, liberated.

13th. The 1st Peiping All-Circles Representative Conference convened.

17th. Foochow, provincial capital of Fukien, liberated.

21st. The Northeast China All-Circles Representative Conference convened in Mukden.

26th. Lanchow, provincial capital of Kansu, liberated.

SEPTEMBER

5th. Sining, provincial capital of Tsinghai, liberated.

19th. The entire province of Suiyuan including provincial capital Kweisui liberated.

21st. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference opens in Peiping.

23rd. Yinchuan, provincial capital of Ninghsia, liberated.

25th. Sinkiang, one of the largest provinces of China, liberated.

27th. The Chinese People's PCC adopts the Organic Law of the Chinese People's PCC and the Organic Law of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China; establishes Peiping as capital and renames it Peking.

29th. The Common Program of the Chinese People's PCC passed by the People's PCC.

30th. Mao Tse-tung, elected Chairman of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China; Chu Teh, Liu Shao-chi, Soong Ching-ling, Li Chi-shen, Chang Lan, Kao Kang, elected vice-chairmen; 180 members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's PCC elected.

OCTOBER

1st. The formation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China officially proclaimed by Chairman Mao Tse-tung at a gigantic mass rally of over 300,000 in Peking.

1st. Foreign Minister Chou En-lai officially delivers Chairman Mao Tse-tung's proclamation to the governments of foreign countries, with an official letter regarding the establishing of normal diplomatic relations.

1st. The Soviet cultural delegation headed by Alexander Fadeyev arrives at Peking.

2nd. China Conference for Defending World Peace inaugurated in Peking.

2nd. Andrei Gromyko, Deputy Foreign Minister of the U.S.S.R., informs Foreign Minister Chou En-lai by telegram, of the Soviet Government's decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

3rd. The China Committee for Defending World Peace formed in Peking with Kuo Mo-jo as Chairman.

3rd. Diplomatic relations with Bulgaria and Rumania established.

4th. Diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary and Korea established.

6th. Diplomatic relations with Mongolia established.

14th. Canton, KMT refugee capital No. 1, liberated.

16th. N. V. Roshchin, first Ambassador of the Soviet Union to China, presents credentials to Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the Central People's Government.

17th. National Railway Conference opens in Peking.

27th. Diplomatic relations with German Democratic Republic established.

NOVEMBER

9th. 4,000 personnel of the China National Aviation Corporation and the Central Air Transport Corporation in Hong Kong repudiate KMT reactionaries and declare allegiance to the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.

15th. Foreign Minister Chou En-lai sends telegram to the President of the United Nations General Assembly denying legal status of the bogus KMT delegation, affirming that the Central People's Government is the sole legal government of China.

15th. Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, liberated.

16th. The Trade Union Conference of Asian and Australasian Countries inaugurated in Peking.

22nd. Kweilin, capital of Kwang-si Province, liberated.

23rd. Diplomatic relations with Albania established.

29th. Foreign Minister Chou En-lai issues statement warning that foreign governments which shelter KMT forces must bear responsibility for consequences.

30th. Chungking, KMT refugee capital No. 2, liberated.

DECEMBER

1st. The Trade Union Conference of Asian and Australasian Countries concluded, after establishing WFTU Liaison Bureau for Asia.

2nd. The Central People's Government Council unanimously passes resolution on the issuance of People's Victory Bonds and adopts national budget for 1950.

4th. KMT Acting-President Li Tsung-jen flees to America.

5th. Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Council, issues directive calling on the men of the PLA to take part in production and reconstruction during the coming year.

8th. The National Agricultural Production Conference opens in Peking.

8th. Chiang Kai-shek together with his "refugee capital" move to Taipei.

9th. Lu Han, KMT governor of Yunnan Province, and Liu Wen-hwei, KMT governor of Sikang Province, renounce relations with KMT and accept the leadership of the Central People's Government.

10th. The National Postal Service Conference opens in Peking.

10th. The Conference of Women of Asia opens in Peking.

16th. Chairman Mao Tse-tung arrives at Moscow and meets Marshal Stalin.

20th. Foreign Minister Chou En-lai lodges protest against the infringement of China's air sovereignty by the French imperialists on the 14th.

21st. Marshal Stalin's birthday celebrated by mass rallies and lecture meetings throughout the country. On the same day, Chairman Mao Tse-tung speaks at the Moscow Celebration, on behalf of the Chinese people and the CPC.

23rd. The National Education Conference opens in Peking.