On October 1st, 1949, 300,000 of the inhabitants of Beijing assembled in Tiananmen Square for what was to be one of the greatest moments in Chinese history. People cheered as Mao Zedong stepped up and proclaimed, "The central people's government of the People's Republic of China is founded today." He pressed a switch and hoisted aloft the first-ever bright red flag with its five stars. "The people of China have stood up," their leader solemnly declared. Fifty years later, hundreds of thousands will again gather in Tiananmen Square to mark the day of China's liberation. Mariz Tadros visited Beijing on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the "Great Proletarian Revolution" led by Mao and, in these special pages, explores the swiftly changing face of Chinese socialism and the remains of that history-making day
Chairman Mao announcing the founding of the
People's Republic of China
The east is red?
Tomorrow, 1 October, marks the 50th anniversary of the Chinese communist revolution. The people of China, who now number 1.3 billion, as opposed to the 475 million of 1949, will be commemorating the sacrifices made by their ancestors, the tests they endured and the heroes who brought them independence.
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Mao and the market
Fifty years after the revolution, is China still a people's dictatorship? Al-Ahram Weekly explores the heritage of the communist past and the consequences of reform |
Where are the 'iron girls'?
The public and private roles of China women are undergoing tremendous changes, forcing many to make radical adjustments in their lives -- not always to their own advantage
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Learning Chinese
Egypt's ambassador to China spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly about the measures needed to translate bonds of friendship into concrete economic gains
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Time to do business
The deputy Chinese foreign minister tells Al-Ahram Weekly that his country remains a firm supporter of the Arab cause, even if political empathy has not yet borne economic fruit
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