The Origin of May Fourth Youth Day

May Fourth Youth Day was established to commemorate the May Fourth Movement that broke out on May 4th, 1919.

Historical background: In January 1919, the victorious countries of World War I held the “Peace Conference” in Paris, France. As one of the victorious countries, China has put forward reasonable demands such as abolishing imperialist privileges in China, canceling the “Twenty One Demands”, and reclaiming Germany’s privileges in Shandong. However, the great powers ignored China’s legitimate demands and decided to transfer all of Germany’s privileges in Shandong to Japan.
Movement outbreak: News spreads back to the country, causing a nationwide uproar. On May 4, 1919, more than 3000 students gathered in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, shouting slogans such as “Compete for sovereignty outside, eliminate traitors inside”, “Abolish the Twenty One Demands”, “Refuse to sign the peace treaty”, and holding a grand demonstration. Subsequently, the movement quickly spread throughout the country, with worker strikes and merchant strikes, forming a nationwide patriotic movement.
Festival Establishment: In order to inherit and carry forward the glorious revolutionary tradition of Chinese youth since the May Fourth Movement, in 1939, the Northwest Youth Salvation Federation of the Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia Border Region designated May 4th as Chinese Youth Day. In December 1949, the State Council of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China officially declared May 4th as China Youth Day.