On the first of October 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China’s founding, after the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, with the Communist Party of China in control of mainland China, and the Kuomingtang retreating to Taiwan. “Communist China” and “Red China” were commonly used names of the PRC.

Since then, it has been celebrated as China’s National Holiday. This is an important occasion celebrated by all in the People’s Republic of China. China has experienced and changed a lot during the last 60 years.
The economic and social plan, known as the Great Leap Forward, resulted in many deaths. In 1966, Mao and his allies launched the Cultural Revolution, which lasted until Mao’s death a decade later. The Cultural Revolution, motivated by power struggles within the Party and fear of the Soviet Union, led to a major upheaval in Chinese society.
In 1972, at the peak of the Sino-Soviet split, Mao and Zhou Enlai met Richard Nixon in Beijing to establish relations with the United States. In that same year, the PRC was admitted to the United Nations, giving up the Republic of China, in return for China’s membership in the United Nations, and permanent membership in the Security Council. After suffering a lot, China changed.
Economy:  Since its founding in 1949 and up to late 1978, the People’s Republic of China had a Soviet-style, centrally planned economy. Following Mao’s death and the end of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and the new Chinese leadership began to reform the economy and move toward a market-oriented mixed economy under one-party rule.

With 2.3 million active troops, the People’s Liberation Army is the largest military in the world. The PLA consists of an army, navy, air force, and strategic nuclear force. Much progress has been made in the last decade and the PRC continues to make efforts to modernize its military. It has purchased state-of-the-art fighter jets from Russia and has also produced its own modern fighter, specifically the Chinese J-10s and the J-11s. The PRC’s armored and rapid-reaction forces have been modernized with enhanced electronics and targeting capabilities. In recent years, much attention has been focused on building a navy with blue-water capability.
Now China has made great progress in the fields of science and technology. China is actively developing its software, semiconductor and energy industries, including renewable energies such as hydro, wind and solar power. China currently has the most cell phone users in the world, with over 700 million users in July 2009. It also has the largest number of internet and broadband users in the world.
Transportation in the mainland of the People’s Republic of China has improved significantly since the late 1990s, as part of a government effort to link the entire nation, through a series of expressways known as the National Trunk Highway System (NTHS). Cities such as Beijing and Shanghai both have a rapidly expanding network of underground or light rail systems, while several other cities also have running rapid transit. Numerous cities are also constructing subways. Hong Kong has one of the most developed transport systems in the world. Shanghai has a Maglev rail line connecting Shanghai's urban area to Pudong International Airport.
In 1986, China set the long-term goal of providing compulsory nine-year basic education for every child. As of 2002, 90.9% of the population over age 15 is literate. China’s youth (age 15 to 24) literacy rate was 98.9% in 2000. The quality of Chinese colleges and universities varies considerably across the country. Many parents are highly committed to their children’s education, often investing large portions of the family’s income in education. Private lessons and recreational activities, such as in foreign languages or music, are popular among the middle-class families who can afford them.
The gala this year is very special, so a lot of grand celebrating will be held especially in the big cities such as Beijing and Shang hai. An exhibition showcasing China’s achievements since 1949 was unveiled on the 23rd of September, 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the exhibition was a “significant gift” for the anniversary, which authentically recorded the developmental history of the New China and displayed the “earth-shaking” changes taking place in the nation. The exhibition, covering progresses in economic, cultural, social and Party constructions, will run till Oct. 20th.
A media center was opened on the 23rd of September, 2009 for journalists covering celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1. Fifty-two types of new weapon systems developed with China’s own technologies, including airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft, will be showcased at the military parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China. A grand gathering at Tiananmen Square on October 1st will be hold to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China. President Hu Jintao will give a keynote speech at the celebration. And this will be followed by a military parade and pageant. The parade will highlight the achievements China has made in defense during the past 6 decades. It will also showcase its resolution to safeguard world and regional peace and stability.