Key events

1966 Cultural Revolution

Launched by Mao Zedong to renew revolutionary zeal and make China less elitist. Schools were shut and millions forced into manual labour. Many died. It sparked civil unrest and chaos. The economy was badly hit.

1979 Economic Reform

China announced it would embrace a market economy and open up to foreign trade and investment. The economy has been transformed lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty though inequalityhas increased.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version