Published in three sections covering the periods 1949-1956; 1957-1966; and 1967-1976; this database addresses a crucial period in Chinese history, from the foundation of the People's Republic, in 1949, to the death of Zhou Enlai and Mao, the arrest of the Gang of Four and the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976. The complete British Foreign Office Files dealing with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in this period are available.

The Foreign Office's reporting on politics, industry, trade and cultural affairs covers:

• Eye-witness accounts and detailed reports on life in China, 1949-1976.
• In depth analysis of the Communist Revolution and all the major figures.
• Materials on the Korean War, the Cold War, US relations and the Cultural Revolution.