History of the China Flag: Zeng Liansong, 1949 Adoption & National Flag Law
China’s red flag with five yellow stars was created during the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949 and later protected by national flag law.
1949: a new state needs new symbols
As the People’s Republic of China was being established, authorities invited proposals for a new national flag.
Zeng Liansong’s design
The winning design is credited to Zeng Liansong, a Shanghai citizen whose proposal used a red field with one large star and four smaller stars.
Why the design was selected
The red field and five-star arrangement expressed the political identity of the new People’s Republic while remaining visually simple enough for mass reproduction.
1949 adoption
The five-star red flag was adopted in 1949 and became the national flag of the People’s Republic of China. It was first raised publicly at the founding ceremony in Beijing on October 1, 1949.
What did the stars mean?
Official explanations identify the large star with the Communist Party of China and the four smaller stars with the Chinese people, visually united around the larger star.
1990 National Flag Law
The National Flag Law was adopted in 1990 to protect the flag’s dignity, regulate its use and define construction requirements.
Construction standards
The law specifies the 3:2 ratio and exact geometry of the five stars. Each small star is angled toward the large star.
Timeline
| 1949 | Zeng Liansong design selected and national flag adopted |
|---|---|
| October 1, 1949 | Flag raised at founding ceremony of PRC |
| 1990 | National Flag Law adopted |
