China Flag

How to identify it

A red field with one large yellow five-pointed star in the upper flagpole corner and four smaller stars in an arc to its right. Each small star is rotated so one of its points aims at the centre of the large one.

Design and construction

Proportions

2:3

Adoption and legal status

27 September 1949

Construction

The canton area is divided into a 15 by 10 grid that fixes the centre and diameter of each star.

Officially documented meaning

The large star stands for the Communist Party of China and the four smaller stars for the people united under it; red is the revolutionary colour.

History of the design

The design by Zeng Liansong was selected from thousands of public entries in 1949. His original version placed a hammer and sickle inside the large star; this was removed before adoption.

Sources