Army of farmers grows into a formidable modern force

Almost 90 years ago, the predecessor of the People's Liberation Army - the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army - was founded by the 7-year-old Communist Party of China. The new army's creation followed a military uprising in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, led by the CPC.

At that time, the nation was an independent republic by name but continued to suffer the oppressive rule of warlords and the pain inflicted by foreign imperialists.

The first members of the force were mostly farmers who could no longer endure oppression, together with soldiers from the warlords' armies. They were inspired by the Party to save the country and liberate the people.