It's been a long time since I've been able to give my 2018 2.0 6MT the thorough cleaning it needs...of course the rock chips in the grill and few other beauty marks are there, I'm still happy with how this thing looks with some shine.

Five Generations of Chinese leaders Poster
1. Brief period of peace (1949-1951) and Third phase of the Chinese civil war (1951-1953)
1949 Huang He ceasefire meant de-iure division of China between two independent states. Both KMT and CPC disproved of this, both claimed to be one and one and only government of whole unified China. There was even a plan to give a separate UN seat to Mao’s government, but due to ROC opposition this proposal failed. Newly declared “People’s Republic of China/Beijing Government” (or alternatively in its full actual name between 1949- and 1953-People’s Liberation Government of the Republic of China) did not gain almost any official international recognition (with one exception being Korea).
However, in 1951 the ceasefire was already broken. Numerous clashes started alongside the Huang He already months of signing of the ceasefire during 1949 and 1950. Neither KMT nor CPC planned to abide by 1949 ceasefire in the future anyway, for them it was just temporally peace and prepared for the final fight. Mao was strongly advised by Stalin to not break status quo, this however incensed Mao, who (in private) accused Stalin of wanting to “sacrifice Chinese revolution to Western Imperialism”. Similarly, Chiang was reminded from Americans that U.S. would not support any offensive against communists. Moreover, president Taft stood for policy of non-interference in Chinese matters, so KMT was now in no position to start any offensive, but Chiang hoped for change in American leadership.
So, it was Mao, who fired the first shot. On the 26th of December 1950 (Mao Zedong’s birthday) PLA crossed the Huang He and launched full scaled offensive. KMT’s military managed to reorganize from defeats from 1946-1949 phase and in the first weeks of the war successfully hold on, but Chiang now, he could not do that for long without any support. Chiang brought the issue to the United Nations, but notion was rejected. U.S. declined all call for support. USSR in response did also not aid PRC. Communists, similarly as in the previous years, had on their side peasantry (who could actually see positive effects of early and reforms and campaigns between 1949 and 1950, which were launched in North China) and gained upper hand and pushed down the South. Already by spring 1952 communist forces captured Nanjing and continued further South. As Chiang expected change in the White House came, but it was to late for him as his forces were already shattered by communists.

1. Early years of the People’s Republic of China (1953-1962)

1st February 1953 People’s Republic of China was proclaimed, last KMT remnants evacuated to Taiwan supported by U.S. under new leadership of MacArthur. So what Mao’s China is? Very similar to OTL, but since it is founded later some thing change due to changing outside conditions.
§ Land reform (partly in North since 1947, fully in North since 1949, 1953-1956 in rest of China) – same, land redistributed among peasants, landlords murdered.
§ Marriage, Education reforms (1953-1957)
§ Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries/Anti-Campaigns (1954-1958)
§ 1957 Hundred Flowers Campaign, that was followed by the Anti-Rightist Movement (1958)
§ 1957 the First 5Year Plan
China saw increase in living standards and economy between 1953-1962
Relations with USSR
Stalin died quickly after Chinese unification, this was beneficial for China since distrust between Stalin and Mao between 1949 and 1953 damaged Sino-Soviet relations. In 1953 socialist bloc recognised China and in 1954 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship was signed between Mao and Khruschev (later extended to rest of socialist Europe) – this one was more equal for China than the OTL one, China gained many experts and technicians from USSR, Chinese workers were sent to USSR and Europe to fill same shortages.
Beginnings of the Sino-Soviet split (1956-1961) and Sino-Soviet split (1961-1962)
Destalinisation in 1956 brough many ideological disagreements between Mao and Khrushchev (who was denounced by Mao as a revisionist), however many aspects such as Chinese need of economic aid and fear of MacArthur’s aggressive policy kept them together. China reacted to Hungarian revolution and condemned USSR for “bowing to the imperialist demands”, similar criticism Khrushchev received after non taking any direct action against the invasion of Egypt just few weeks later. In 1957 the First 5Year Plan was launched, this one was still developed with help of the soviet experts.
During 1960s relations started to deteriorate more and more. One of final straws was 1960 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, which China started without consulting USSR (and risking the war with MacArthur). During the war in Cuba Mao demanded Khruschev to take direct military action to support Cuba and denounced Khruschev a a “revisionist traitor to communism, coward who knows only how capitulate to imperialist demands”, after these relations between USSR and China were finally broken. In 1962 formal declarations formulated each ideological position.

1. The Great Leap Forward and fall of Mao Zedong (1962-1966)

Now isolated, same as OTL (but with obvious delay of 4 years) Mao Zedong launched his infamous Great Leap Forward and caused Great Chinese Famine resulting into deaths of 36 – 45 million people. After his Mao Zedong is forcefully side-lined during Seven Thousand Cadres Conference of 1966, moderates Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping now ruled the country.

1. Mao’s attempts to regain power and death (1967-1969)

Found himself in the same situation as in our reality, Mao attempted to reassert his power. Already in 1967, he launched Socialist Education Movement. Development in the rest of the communist world did also impact China, despite the official condemnation of the European Spring, Deng and Liu watched the economic reforms with large interest and them with associated reformists started to develop new plans for economic reconstruction, this led to final split between them and Mao. Mao instead worked on his own plan, utilizing need for governmental reform dealing with increasing bureaucratisation and corruption. In 1969 Mao presented the April 16 Notification, claiming that contra revolutionaries are infiltrating CPC. Soon fist mass rallies of maoist students started and schools have closed. Then Mao Zedong completely disappeared from the public, after the three weeks of silence on 16th June 1969 national broadcast announced that chairman Mao Zedong had died. Official explanation was hearth attack; however, many did not believe such explanation, most importantly radicals in the Student Red Guards, who believed Mao was murdered by counterrevolutionaries inside the Party.
(Reason for Mao’s death is only partly true. CPC officials knew it, but decided to hide it, because it is...ehm...embarrassing. The true reason of his death is in this World regarded just a “crazy conspiracy theory”. On 20th May 1969 Mao Zedong decided to swim across river Yagnze, as he did OTL, now almost 77 years old man suffered a heart attack during this swim and he started to quickly drowning, people who were close to him managed to pull chairman out of water and transported him to doctor, but it was too late.)

1. The Red Guards Rebellion (1969-1970)

Large masses gathered on the Tiananmen Square (more than a million of people), many of these people were radicalised student red guards, who refused to leave and turned Mao’s funeral into a large demonstration, accusing the CPC leadership of treachery and murders (as response to this some official, knowing the true version released it, thus it is known as conspiracy). The Tiananmen manifestation was suppressed by PLA troops loyal to the CPC leadership. This was however not the end, but the beginning – all around the country the Red Guards launched what they called the “Second Chinese Revolution” with slogans like “Down with reactionary clique of Liu Shaoqi –upheld Mao Zedong’s thought, Mao Zedong still alive in our hearts” etc. It was nothing but open civil war between radical rough red guards and Chinese governments, some figures like Jiang Qing did also join the side of the guards. Crucial for putting the rebellion down was that Lin Biao (former close ally of Mao) joined forces with Deng and Liu. Effects of the Red Guards rebellion were disastrous, according to various accounts 300-500 thousand people died (but sill had less impact than OTL Cultural Revolution). This rebellion was used also used as excuse to launch Campaign against counterrevolutionary gangs (1970-73), that purged the party from far-left faction. End of rebellion started the Eliminating Chaos and Returning to Normal period.

1. Tetrarchy leadership and Four Cardinal Principles (1970-1974)

When situation stabilised, new leadership secured power – Liu, Chen, Zhou, and Lin. First two represented the moderate reformist wing, while Lin Biao represented the conservatives, he played pivotal role since his control over PLA. Zhou Enlai acted as moderator. Deng Xiaoping was also very influential as vice-premier. Campaign against counterrevolutionary gangs eventually weakened Lin Biao’s position and he was forced to retire. During this time basis of “Reform and Normalization” efforts were created. Four Cardinal Principles were approved and later put into 1978 constitution. Party also approved its view of Mao Zedong, upholding his status and giving responsibility for last events of his life solely to “counterrevolutionary gangs twisting the words of chairman Mao to destabilise China and strife for power” (so, because there is no Cultural Revolution Mao is viewed better…but he still still criticized for “making some mistakes” during the Great Leap Forward).
Efforts were made to revive economy, looking to the Soviet Union’s successful reform to inspiration.

1. Liu Shaoqi/Chen Yun/Deng Xiaoping and Four Modernizations (1974-1991)

When Lin Biao was removed nothing stood against Chinese reform. This reform was inspired by the European ones but took more market character (still not that much market as did Deng’s OTL reform), despite Deng and Chen were mostly the architects of the reforms, Liu Shaoqi become the main face of era during 1970s and 1980s, then being followed by Chen Yun (so Deng is least known from them). Also, instead of Deng, Chen Yun become more influential (as he was the leader of the communist party, it fits the scenario well as he was more moderate about the reforms than Deng OTL)
Together with economic reform also come a political reform, in 1978 new constitution was created (very similar to that of OTL 1982), there was also limited political and cultural liberalisation.
China restored relations with the USSR and European socialist bloc (split was even less tense since 1969 border conflict did not happen) during 1970s. Andrei Gromyko visited Beijing in 1982 and Deng went on a tour through Europe in 1984. Unlike OTL Nixon was not in China and US-Chinese relations did not improve till 1985, when President Jesse Jackson become the first president to visit China, he met with the President Liu Shaoqi (he was seriously ill 87 years old man and died few months after) and Deng. U.S. recognised China and China gained UN seat. American capitalists started to invest into Chinese special economic zones.
In 1986 Liu dies and general secretary Chen Yun takes his position, leaving his position for Hu Yaobang.
With many changing in this timeline there are still some protests in 1989 as OTL, but never grow to such extent and there is no need to suppress them.
American businesses relocating to China is now more part of the lore (some of the still do, but is just exception than rule) because China partly joins the Soviet sanctions on Rumsfeld’s regime and works more on deepening relations with Europe and Third World.
8. Third and Fourth Generation of Leadership – Hu and Hu (1991-2011)
During this period, similarly as OTL China experiences its rapid rise. Similar people are in charge, political system is almost the same. Difference is the more socialist oriented economy. Hong Kong returned to China (Macau did already in 1975 after Portuguese Revolution). These years are considered to be the most democratic.
9. Bo Xilai – new left, neomaoism (2011 – present)
In 2011 Bo Xilai became the new leader of China. He is very different leader than the previous. Former major of Chongqing instituted model from his city nationwide. Maoist era aesthetics were revived (red songs, propaganda, personality cult), he focuses on achieving full employment, bettering living standards of the workers, while keeping the current market-oriented model (with exaggeration it could be called “social democracy”), he promotes social progressivism, voluntary communal collectives were also recreated. His most controversial actions was his large Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Campaign (2012-2015) in which many both civilian and military officials, business leaders and leading politicians (including Xi Jinping) were arrested imprisoned for alleged corruption. Bo changed constitution (approved by popular referendum) to abolish term limits. Following COVID crisis he further secured hi power. He officially instituted the Bo Xilai Thought on Chinese Socialism as new state ideology, his policy is also known as “Common prosperity” (equivalent to Xi’s Chinese Dream). Many accuse him of creating personality cult and being overall authoritarian and supressing opposition.
Leadership list since 1969
Premier: Zhou Enlai (died 1976), Deng Xiaoping (1976(1978)-1988), Li Peng (1988-1998), Jiang Zemin (1998-2008), Wen Jiabao (2008-2018), Zhou Yongkang (since 2018)
As Chairman (1959-1978), President: Liu Shaoqi (1978-1986) (died) Chen Yun (1986-1991) (not seek term), Hu Qili (1991-2001), Hu Jintao (2001-2011), Bo Xilai (since 2011)
General Secretary: Chen Yun (1969-1986) Hu Yaobang (1986-1989), Hu Qili (1989-2000), Hu Jintao (2000-2011), Bo Xilai (since 2011)