when did china become communist

China officially became a communist country on October 1, 1949, when Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC). This event marked the victory of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Chinese Civil War against the Nationalist government, leading to the communist transformation of China. The CCP was originally founded in 1921 and gradually grew in influence through years of struggle, including the Long March (1934-1935) and the fight against both the Nationalists and Japanese invasion during the Chinese Civil War period. The founding of the PRC in 1949 is the key milestone signaling when China became communist in governance and political structure.