The flag of the Peopl's Republic of China was designed by Zeng Liansong, an economist and artist from Rui'an, Zhejiang. He designed it in response to a circular distributed by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) IN July 1949, shortly after coming to power.

Out of more than 3,000 entries received for the competition, zeng's was chosen after being nominated as one of the 38 finalists. Mao Zedong was the lucky man to hoist the first chinese flag on a pole overlooking Tiananmen Square. This flag was yellow with a blue dragon, representing the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty, which ruled China for many years.

The current flag dates from 1949, when the People's Republic of China was first formed.