From 1948 to 1949, the Communist Party's People's Liberation Army (PLA) grew stronger and defeated the Kuomintang (KMT) government forces in a series of battles. This allowed the PLA to capture major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. With their main cities taken, the KMT surrendered in 1949, allowing the People's Republic of China to be established under Communist rule on October 1, 1949, while the KMT retreated to Taiwan and established the Republic of China.

1. Communist Victory
From the Civil War in 1948 until the founding of the
People’s Republic of China in 1949

2. By November 1948, the power of the PLA were strong
enough to abandon on their guerilla attacks and fight the
Communists face to face. Starting from towns of Suchow
and Yungcheng, they fought the Battle of Huai-Hai. This
was a big loss for the Kuomintang, for they lost more
than half a million men and equipments. Then, they
continued moving towards central China, capturing KMT
cities as they go – Beijing in April, Shanghai in May and
Guangzhou in October.

3. Taken away their main cities, the Kuomintang surrenders,
and on October 1st, 1949, the People’s Republic of China
is formed under the Communists. Meanwhile, Chiang
Kaishek and his KMT army retreat to Taiwan, the only
area not under Communist controls, and set up a
‘Republic of China’ in January 1949.
People’s Republic of China Republic of China

4. Left: Chiang Kaishek
Right: Mao Zedong