On October 1, 1949 Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China.
The Cultural Revolution between 1966-1976 China was a period of deification of Mao Zedong. All the Chinese knew the quotes from the little Red Book by heart and passionately sang Red Songs in praise of Mao 毛泽东. Each and every families had to be Red. Newly born children were given revolutionary names such as 'Red' (Hong 红), 'Protect the East' (Weidong 卫东). This extremely 'Red' period came to an end when Mao died.
Two years later, in 1978 China opened up and started a rocket speed modernization.
Recently someone in Beijing told me that during the weekend hundreds of Chinese gather at the Longtan Park to sing Red Songs. She told me this is real nostalgia and people love it. So I went there on a Saturday morning to take a look.
Everyone held the same red book and sang passionately. Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution left a deep imprint on this generation.