The Birth of New China

Overview

During the spring and summer of 1949, the People's Liberation Army, directed by Mao Zedong and Zhu De, initiated a decisive campaign that led to their crossing of the Yangtze River. The liberation of Nanjing on April 23 marked a pivotal moment, resulting in the collapse of the Kuomintang (KMT) regime as Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan. On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong stood proudly at Tiananmen Square, announcing the establishment of the People's Republic of China, a historic declaration that reshaped the nation's future.