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The People’s Republic under Mao, 1949–1976

Mao’s China maps by year

22 historical maps of The People’s Republic under Mao, 1949–1976, one for each turning point: who controlled what, and what changed since the map before.

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China

Map of China on 1 October 1949
1 October 1949
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC PROCLAIMED
Map of China in June 1950
June 1950
THE SOUTH-WEST TAKEN; THE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW
Map of China in October 1950
October 1950
INTO KOREA AND INTO TIBET
Map of China in October 1951
October 1951
THE PLA IN LHASA; THE CAMPAIGNS AT THEIR HEIGHT
Map of China in July 1953
July 1953
ARMISTICE IN KOREA; LAND REFORM COMPLETE
Map of China in December 1955
December 1955
THE “HIGH TIDE” OF COLLECTIVISATION
Map of China in March 1956
March 1956
KHAM AND AMDO IN REVOLT
Map of China in December 1956
December 1956
THE COLLECTIVES COMPLETE
Map of China in June 1957
June 1957
FROM A HUNDRED FLOWERS TO THE ANTI-RIGHTIST CAMPAIGN
Map of China in October 1958
October 1958
THE GREAT LEAP: COMMUNES AND FURNACES
Map of China in March 1959
March 1959
LHASA RISES; THE DALAI LAMA FLEES
Map of China in 1960
1960
THE GREAT FAMINE AT ITS WORST
Map of China in January 1962
January 1962
THE RETREAT: THE LEAP ABANDONED
Map of China in November 1962
November 1962
WAR WITH INDIA
Map of China in October 1964
October 1964
THE BOMB, THE THIRD FRONT AND THE SOVIET RIFT
Map of China in August 1966
August 1966
THE RED GUARDS
Map of China in July 1967
July 1967
POWER SEIZED: THE FIRST REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEES
Map of China in September 1968
September 1968
“THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS RED”
Map of China in March 1969
March 1969
ZHENBAO ISLAND: THE BORDER WAR WITH THE SOVIETS
Map of China in September 1971
September 1971
LIN BIAO’S FLIGHT; BEIJING TAKES CHINA’S UN SEAT
Map of China in September 1972
September 1972
NIXON, THEN TANAKA: THE RING BROKEN
Map of China in September 1976
September 1976
MAO DIES

Historical maps from every atlas, by year →

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