Influential at the start

The 1911 Revolution brought about more than political reform. Some key people led change in everyday lives, Wang Yan, Zhang Yuchen and Wu Wencong report.

This month will see not only a large celebration for the 62nd National Day of New China, but also the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, which brought an end to the country's last imperial dynasty. The revolution, which is also known as the Xinhai Revolution, brought the curtain down on the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and gave birth to a republican form of government. Zhu Xiehan, history professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, deemed it a great turning point in Chinese civilization.

On Oct 9, 1911, a bomb made and put in a hidden place by revolutionaries was exploded by accident in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, leading those who were hostile to the imperial power to begin to carry out their long-held plans before they had expected to. The ensuing conflict between Qing loyalists and the revolutionary forces of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance ended with the abdication of Emperor Puyi on Feb 12, 1912.

The Republic of China was then established and Sun Yat-sen was appointed to be the provisional president. He later agreed to make Yuan Shikai, previously the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty's imperial cabinet, the president. Within a few years, Yuan was trying to reinstate the Chinese monarchy.

"China was politically fragmented during the time, and abundant new ideas were flowing in," Zhu said. "People were faced with a slew of choices about the future of China. It was a time of wisdom, when lots of personages left their names on history. It was a liberal and free period that embraced deep observations and thoughts about the nation and the world.

"New ideas drove reforms throughout society. People were fighting for their own goals. The changes were obvious."

To mark the eve of the revolution's 100th anniversary and to gauge its consequences for the country both then and now, China Daily reporters looked at the stories of some who lived through the events.