Flag of China
countryThe flag of China was adopted on September 27, 1949 to a design by Zeng Liansong. Red field with five golden stars in the canton. It uses 2 colours: red and gold. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of China |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Official Country Name | People's Republic of China |
| Capital | Beijing |
| Continent | Asia |
| Region | Eastern Asia |
| ISO Country Code | CN / CHN |
| Internet Domain | .cn, .中国, .中國, .公司, .网络 |
| Calling Code | +86 |
| Currency | Chinese yuan (CNY) |
| National Language(s) | Chinese |
| Demonym | Chinese |
| Area | 9,706,961 km² |
| Population | 1.42 billion (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of China |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | September 27, 1949 |
| First Used | 1949 |
| Current Version Adopted | September 27, 1949 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 2 |
| Main Colors | Red, Gold |
| Designer | Zeng Liansong |
| Design Type | Red field with five golden stars in the canton |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of China |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | #EE1C25 | 238, 28, 37 | 0, 88, 84, 7 | |
| Gold | #FFFF00 | 255, 255, 0 | 0, 0, 100, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Red colour | Represents the communist revolution |
|---|---|
| Gold colour | Represents the five stars and the golden brightness of the land |
| Large star | The leadership of the Communist Party |
| Four small stars | The four social classes united under it; each small star has one point aimed at the centre of the large one |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1949 | The design was first used |
| 1949-09-27 | The current flag was officially adopted |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Width | 2 units (hoist) |
| Length | 3 units (fly) |
China Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
| National Holidays | Yes |
| Military | Yes |
| Naval Use | Yes |
| Embassies | Yes |
| International Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of China
| Flag Type | Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Flag | National representation | View flag |
| Civil Flag | Used by civilians | View flag |
| State Flag | Used by government | View flag |
| War Flag | Used during military operations | View flag |
| Naval Ensign | Used by the navy | View flag |
| Air Force Flag | Used by the air force | View flag |
| Presidential Standard | Used by the head of state | View flag |
| Royal Standard | Used by the monarch | View flag |
| Historical Flag | Previous national flag | View flag |
Quick Facts About the Flag
| Flag Age | 77 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | September 27, 1949 |
| Oldest Version | 1949 |
| Flag Nickname | Five-star Red Flag |
| Designer | Zeng Liansong |
| Most Common Color | Red |
| Similar Flags | Aruba, Idaho, Isle of Man |
| Unique Feature | Red field with five golden stars in the canton |
Other plain field with a central emblem flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of China
- The large star represents the Communist Party and the four smaller stars the social classes identified in the founding ideology, each with one point aimed at the centre of the large star.
- The design was chosen from nearly three thousand entries submitted to a public competition in 1949; the winner, Zeng Liansong, was an economist working in Shanghai.
- His original design had a hammer and sickle inside the large star, which was removed before adoption.
- The flag of China was officially adopted on September 27, 1949. It was designed by Zeng Liansong.
- The flag in its present form is 77 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Red field with five golden stars in the canton.
- The flag is known as Five-star Red Flag, a name used far more often than the formal "flag of China".
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 82 national flags.
- The flag uses 2 colours: red and gold.
- The red on the flag stands for the communist revolution.
- The gold on the flag stands for the five stars and the golden brightness of the land.
- Large star: The leadership of the Communist Party.
- Four small stars: The four social classes united under it; each small star has one point aimed at the centre of the large one.
- The design belongs to the "Plain field with a central emblem" family, shared with 70 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Aruba, Idaho and Isle of Man.
- China became independent on 1 October 1949 from no colonial power — the date marks the founding of the People's Republic.
- China was never wholly colonised, though foreign powers held concessions; the Qing dynasty fell in 1912 and the People's Republic was proclaimed in 1949.
- Table tennis is the national sport; football and basketball are the most watched.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of China
When was the flag of China adopted?
The flag of China was officially adopted on September 27, 1949.
What do the colours of the flag of China mean?
Red for the communist revolution and gold for the five stars and the golden brightness of the land.
When did China gain independence?
China became independent on 1 October 1949 from no colonial power — the date marks the founding of the People's Republic. China was never wholly colonised, though foreign powers held concessions; the Qing dynasty fell in 1912 and the People's Republic was proclaimed in 1949.
What is the national sport of China?
Table tennis is the national sport; football and basketball are the most watched.
What do the symbols on the flag of China represent?
Large star — The leadership of the Communist Party. Four small stars — The four social classes united under it; each small star has one point aimed at the centre of the large one.
Who designed the flag of China?
The flag was designed by Zeng Liansong.
What are the proportions of the flag of China?
The official ratio is 2:3, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 82 national flags.
What is the national anthem of China?
The national anthem is "March of the Volunteers".
When is the national day of China?
It falls on 1 October, National Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of China?
The national animal is the giant panda, with the red-crowned crane as national bird.