The Cultural Revolution begins, disrupting administration and production

A set of nine measures sought to reduce the urban population and cut grain sales in cities. Millions of people were transferred or returned to rural areas as the state struggled to match food supply...

The large national conference assessed the economic catastrophe and called for practical correction. Liu Shaoqi’s frank acknowledgment of the crisis represented a rare moment of high-level openness....

Zhou presented modernization goals in agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology to the National People’s Congress. The program aimed to make China a technologically capable...

Li Fuchun, Bo Yibo and Luo Ruiqing submitted proposals for strategic industrial construction in China’s interior, following Mao’s August 12 instruction to study how economic infrastructure could...

The 1966–1970 plan emphasized defense, self-reliance, agriculture and industry, with an important role for the Third Front. Its design reflected the deterioration of China’s relations with both...

The Central Committee’s decision framed the Cultural Revolution as a mass movement to challenge alleged capitalist restoration within the Party. It empowered political mobilization but destabilized...

Radical activists declared a commune modeled on the Paris Commune after taking power from municipal authorities. The experiment raised questions about workers’ authority and political...

A directive encouraged urban educated youth to settle in rural areas, presented as a way to learn from peasants and support socialist development. Millions were displaced from education and family...

The Dongfanghong-1 satellite entered orbit, demonstrating advances in rocketry, electronics and research under a state-directed system. It served national prestige and security while building...

The UN General Assembly recognized the PRC as the representative of China, expanding the government’s access to international institutions. Diplomatic recognition supported later trade and...