Commentary on the Article “Fan County, Shandong Province Proposes Transition to Communism in 1960”
(November 6, 1958)
This document No. 111 is very interesting; it is like a poem and seems feasible as well. The time frame appears rather tight—only three years. However, that is not a major concern: if it cannot be accomplished within three years, we can simply extend the deadline. Do comrades Chen Boda, Zhang Chunqiao, and Li Youjiu find it worthwhile to go there and take a look? The journey is not far; one could make a round trip within a week. Why not set out after the meeting? What do you think?
Mao Zedong
At 8 o’clock in the morning on November 6
To be circulated. The typeface size and layout should remain exactly as they were in the original text—they are quite appropriate.
[1]
Refers to the article “Fan County, Shandong Province Proposes Transition to Communism in 1960,” published in Issue No. 134 of the Central Committee Propaganda Department’s “Propaganda and Education Bulletin,” dated November 4, 1958. The article reported on Fan County’s…

Commentary on the Article “Fan County, Shandong Province Proposes Transition to Communism in 1960”
A summary of the report delivered by Xie Huiyu, First Secretary of the People’s Commune Party Committee (County Party Committee), at the Fan County Conference of Advanced Elements in Communist Construction, held on October 28, 1958, outlining a plan for the commune to transition to communism within two years. The main points were as follows:
I. Industry. The report proposed:
1) Establishing a local industrial network within one year;
2) Achieving industrialization and electrification within two years. The plan included: developing the steel industry through a combination of traditional and modern methods, integrating both domestic and foreign technologies; concentrating efforts on building up the machinery industry; advancing electrification by constructing eight hydropower stations in 1958 and completing a large-scale hydroelectric power plant on the Yellow River by 1960. Once finished, this would not only supply electricity for industrial use but also fully electrify and illuminate both rural and urban areas, while simultaneously initiating research into and utilization of atomic energy; vigorously developing the chemical industry; expanding production of daily necessities; and significantly strengthening the construction sector. Upon completion of these plans, our commune would resemble the following: factories rising everywhere, with chimneys standing densely like a forest; machines roaring incessantly, large and small operating autonomously; production processes controlled by buttons, blurring the line between work and rest. We would be capable of producing steel and textiles, manufacturing fertilizers and generators, and even tractors and automobiles. All essential goods would be abundantly available—fruits, canned products, and Fan County liquor—readily accessible whenever needed. Electric lights, telephones, and radios would bring great convenience. Such a future could be realized through two years of hard struggle. II. Achieving high yields in agricultural production. The plan called for cultivating 150,000 mu of grain crops in 1960, aiming for an average yield of 20,000 jin per mu, with the aspiration of reaching 30,000 jin, ultimately producing 3.9 billion jin of grain; planting 150,000 mu of cotton, targeting 15,000 jin of seed cotton per mu, with the goal of 25,000 jin, for a total output of 2.25 billion jin; sowing 150,000 mu of peanuts, striving for 50,000 jin per mu, potentially increasing to 80,000 jin, resulting in a total harvest of 7.5 billion jin; and planting 50,000 mu of sweet potatoes, aiming for 30,000 jin per mu, with the possibility of reaching 50,000 jin, for a total yield of 1.5 billion jin. This year, water conservancy projects should focus on developing an extensive network of irrigation channels. By 1959, all arable land was to be transformed into well-organized fields with standardized, gravity-fed irrigation systems, leading to fully automated, electrically powered irrigation by 1960. At that point:
Fields would be tilled by machines, and irrigation would be managed entirely by electricity; grain yields would soar to tens of thousands of jin per mu, rivaling Mount Tai in abundance; cotton bolls would bloom like snowfields, and peanuts would grow so plentifully that no one would need to pick them up. A single bountiful harvest would surpass a hundred ordinary seasons, bringing boundless joy to everyone. III. Forestry, fisheries, animal husbandry, and diversified economic activities. In accordance with the principle of allocating one-third of the land to crop cultivation, one-third to afforestation, and one-third to fallow, extensive greening efforts were to be undertaken in 1959 along forest edges, around homes, beside roads, along canals, near reservoirs and ponds, along riverbanks, embankments, and even around cemeteries and memorial parks. (Details regarding fisheries, animal husbandry, and other diversified sectors have been omitted from the report summary.) IV. Plans for constructing a communist utopia.
1. Based on the overall industrial and agricultural layout of the commune and guided by principles that promote production while enhancing the environment, all 993 natural villages in the county were to be merged over three years into 25 new, communist-style utopian communities. Each new community would be equipped with: maternity hospitals, theaters, cinemas, kindergartens, nursing homes, sanatoriums, holiday resorts, parks, nurseries, health clinics, libraries, exhibition halls, cultural centers, barbershops, youth dining halls, senior citizens’ dining halls, grand auditoriums, conference rooms, restaurants, dance halls, bathhouses, fish ponds, supply stations, broadcasting stations, sports stadiums, power plants, municipal waterworks, and livestock farms—essentially comprising eight types of institutions, two clinics, four halls, three rooms, two pools, three stations, and four facilities.
2. According to the blueprint for these communist utopias, Fan County would construct “three east-west and five north-south” major thoroughfares, each 30 meters wide, crisscrossing all 25 new communities throughout the commune. Within the fields, straight, well-maintained management roads, 12 meters wide, would connect every corner. Alongside these roads, fruit trees and ornamental plants would be planted, creating a harmonious blend of agriculture and landscaping. The ultimate goal was to achieve:
Truly robust new communities, surrounded by buildings on all sides, featuring universities and factories, fragrant flowerbeds lining the streets, bright, smooth asphalt roads where cars travel in orderly lines, vibrant movie theaters and performance venues offering cultural enrichment after work, heated interiors during winter and cooling breezes in summer—transforming everyday life into something extraordinary and ushering in everlasting happiness. V. Culture, education, science, healthcare, and social welfare.
1. In terms of education, primary schooling was to be made universally accessible by 1959, ensuring that all children of school age enrolled. Over the following two years, four to six universities, one teachers’ college, and 80 to 100 secondary schools were to be built, thereby achieving universal secondary education.
2. Regarding science, a central meteorological station was to be established in 1959, along with ten branch stations. Eleven specialized institutes focusing on both revolutionary ideals and professional expertise were to be founded, alongside a national academy of sciences with ten affiliated branches. Additionally, a university of agriculture and separate party and youth league schools were planned. Each institute, department, station, and school was to acquire a complete set of equipment for agricultural and industrial research and maintain its own experimental fields.
3. Concerning healthcare, in addition to implementing state-funded medical care this year, 25 additional hospital beds and 25 more maternity wards were to be added in 1959, along with the construction of a single large communal hospital with 100 beds and 100 outpatient clinics. By 1960, beyond expanding existing facilities, four more communal sanatoriums were to be built.
4. As for social welfare, building upon the existing 22 theaters, libraries, and bathhouses constructed in 1958, another 25 theaters, bathhouses, cinemas, sports stadiums, parks, and libraries were to be expanded in 1959.
5. In the realm of postal and telecommunications services, all production teams, canteens, factories, and other units were to be equipped with telephones in 1959, ensuring that every household had a loudspeaker installed. By 1960, a central telephone exchange was to be set up for each production brigade, and telephones were to be installed in nurseries, maternity wards, hospitals, and libraries as well. The ultimate aim was to establish a system where various productive machines, labor, study, and leisure activities operated under a “three-eight” regime; people could ride electric buses and enjoy fragrant scents wherever they went; indoor and outdoor spaces would be illuminated by electric lights, allowing residents to make calls anytime and listen to scheduled broadcasts. Before and after meals, they could tune in to radio programs and freely enjoy performances from Beijing or Shanghai.
VI. Abundant food and clothing. By 1960, the communist principle of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” was to be fundamentally implemented. At that time, everyone would reside in the new utopian communities, enjoying free access to food, drink, and clothing. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat would be delicious, and diners could savor four full plates at every meal. Fresh fruits would be available daily, and there would be an endless variety of clothes to choose from. Everyone would proclaim that paradise itself could not compare to these new communities. Mao Zedong’s commentary, together with this plan, was later circulated at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee.
[2]
Chen Boda was then Director of the CPC Central Political Research Office and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Red Flag. Zhang Chunqiao served as Head of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee. Li Youjiu was a permanent editor of Red Flag magazine.
[3]
This commentary was written in response to the report published in the “Propaganda and Education Bulletin,” which summarized key points from the speech delivered by Xie Huiyu, First Secretary of the Fan County CPC Committee. The phrase “according to the original text” refers to printing the plan exactly as it appeared in the appendix to the bulletin, titled “Fan County’s Two-Year Plan for Transition to Communism” (see note [1] above).

Speech at the Zhengzhou Meeting Preparatory to the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee (Part II)
(November 6, 1958)
In just two months, we have already achieved significant results. With another year of effort next year, we will surely succeed. Next year is of utmost importance: steel must be the central focus, supported by the Three Great Marshals and two pioneering initiatives. What does it mean to build socialism? And what constitutes a transition to communism? We need to formulate clear definitions.
After three years of arduous struggle, we must continue for another twelve or fifteen years to fully transition to communism. This should not be made public, yet we cannot afford to delay action any further.
How long will it take to transition from collective ownership to全民ownership? Three, four, five, six years—or perhaps even longer? Is this timeframe too short, or too long? Sometimes it feels excessively prolonged, while at other times we worry it may be insufficient. Personally, I lean toward the latter view. When will people’s communes reach a level comparable to Anshan Iron and Steel Works? Can agriculture truly be transformed into an industrial enterprise? Goods and accumulated resources should be allocated as needed; those that are not essential need not be transferred, but items designated for allocation must be moved without condition—only then can we truly attain全民ownership. Henan province suggests four years, which may be too brief; doubling that to eight years might be more appropriate. Fan County, however, claims that a rigorous two-year effort will suffice for transitioning to communism.
We must carefully study Stalin’s writings. His principal merit lies in his articulation of socialist economics, whereas his greatest flaw was rigidly defining the boundaries of collective farms, asserting that they were merely engaged in commodity exchange and unwilling to engage in resource allocation. This stance stemmed from a desire to consolidate the socialist order rather than pursue continuous revolution. Russian peasants were certainly not inherently selfish nor opposed to constant revolutionary upheaval. Indeed, Russia did establish a socialist system, but that system proved unsustainable. We, on the other hand, have taken a different approach: by partially dismantling the socialist order—particularly through the rationing system—we have effectively undermined it.
Grain requisition, accumulation of resources, and labor—all involve resource allocation and embody全民ownership. During the Million Strong Troops’ March Southward, why can’t we now mobilize people for labor? Currently, such mobilization is limited to specific regions; nationwide or provincial-level transfers are prohibited. For instance, An Guo’s plan to distribute 500 jin of wheat to every resident of Fuping next year is unprecedented worldwide. Resource allocation must be both possible and necessary; arbitrary redistribution leads only to collapse. Emperor Qin Shi Huang once conscripted 700,000 laborers to construct his mausoleum, ultimately precipitating the dynasty’s downfall. Similarly, Emperor Yang of Sui fell due to reckless mobilization of manpower.
Was King Wu’s campaign against Zhou truly a threefold transformation? Historically, it has always been so, beginning with military preparations. How many years are required to transition from collective ownership to全民ownership? Could four years be sufficient? Henan proposes four years, while Fan County insists on two. The benchmark remains Anshan Iron and Steel Works. Beyond the 7,200 yuan spent on depreciation, Anshan generates an additional 10,800 yuan in profit, of which 800 yuan goes to workers and 10,000 yuan is accumulated for the state—this is precisely the kind of resource allocation we seek. For Stalin, achieving such a transition was an exceedingly difficult task, necessitating a precise timeline. It represented the first step in this process. The second step involves shifting from “to each according to his labor” to “to each according to his needs.” We have already begun preparing for this second stage, aiming to provide free meals to all. The Soviet Union also touted this idea, boasting about the bustling activity on the staircases while neglecting to mention that no one actually descended. Our initiative to offer free meals embodies the nascent principle of “each according to his needs.” At present, our reserves are quite meager—typically less than 200 grams per person, though amounts may range from 100 to 500 grams. Since nutrition primarily derives from grain, we can proceed gradually without taking undue risks, systematically implementing whatever measures prove feasible. This undeniably reflects elements of communism.
Self-sufficiency and the rationing system, along with internal resource allocation within the communes versus commodity exchange, should develop in tandem. Without the growth of a market economy, wage payments cannot be sustained. A professor visited Xushui University and found that faculty members received only five yuan per month, barely enough to buy two packs of cigarettes daily. On what basis can one claim superiority? Hebei province currently has three counties receiving relief assistance, while over a dozen others are barely able to meet their basic food needs. A third category of wages ranges from twenty fen to several yuan, with higher salaries concentrated in Beijing and Shanghai. Water and firewood provided in rural areas are essentially free of charge; therefore, a standardized framework must be established.
Within a mother’s womb lies a child, and within socialism resides the potential for communism—a dialectical relationship that Stalin failed to recognize.
We cannot expect to transform agriculture within just two or three years; instead, we should prioritize industrial development while continuing to advance agriculture.

Speech at the Zhengzhou Meeting Preparatory to the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee (Part II)
We also fear that excessive emphasis on industry might undermine agriculture. Therefore, we should encourage every commune to produce commodities and dispel any aversion to the term “commodity.” China’s current mode of production is highly irrational: with a population of half a billion, we devote nearly all our resources solely to food production, yielding a mere 370 billion jin of grain annually. From this experience, we draw two key lessons: promoting mechanization and adopting high-yield, low-input farming practices to free up labor for industrial expansion. Achieving these goals within the next two years—next year and the year following—would be entirely feasible. Hebei province plans to cultivate 10 million mu of land next year, aiming for yields of 10,000 jin per mu, which would result in a total output of 100 billion jin. Last year, however, only 88 million mu were planted, yielding a modest 25 billion jin, and this year’s harvest is projected to reach just 45 billion jin. By harnessing the power of machinery and electricity, we can cultivate smaller plots and still obtain abundant harvests. There is no need to boast excessively; otherwise, as Huang Yanpei once remarked, all we end up doing in Zhengzhou is eating vegetarian dishes. After a lavish feast, one might consume only about 75 grams of oil per month—what real advantage does that offer? Furthermore, standards vary widely. According to Fan County’s criteria, such achievements could indeed be classified as part of the transition to communism, given that approximately 95 percent of its industries meet the requisite level. Presently, though, our progress falls short of qualifying as full-fledged communism; we can only speak of its constituent factors and embryonic stages. Under no circumstances should we lower the bar for what constitutes true communism.
The rationing system serves as a convenient transitional mechanism that does not create obstacles. It lays the foundation for building socialism and preparing for the eventual transition to communism.
Standards differ across regions; some favor strict regulations, while others adopt more lenient approaches. Engels, for example, emphasized the importance of consuming fats and proteins.
Soviet collective farms focused exclusively on agriculture, practicing extensive, low-yield cultivation—making a smooth transition to communism virtually impossible. The Soviet socialist system was characterized by collective ownership, with elements of全民ownership gradually emerging. Stalin’s vision of transitioning to communism faced significant challenges: he discouraged moves toward全民ownership, downplayed the role of consumer goods production, and fostered a stark divide between heavy and light industries. These policy choices ultimately widened the gap.
We should reread Stalin’s “Problems of Socialist Economy” and also examine his collection of essays on “Bourgeois Rights.”
The nature of people’s communes, the specifics of their transition process, and the time required—these matters warrant careful consideration under Article 40 of the Constitution. How should urban people’s communes operate? Should we, in principle, refrain from lowering standards? Some cadres have subtly adjusted their positions within the Party, refraining from publicity, while professors have accepted pay cuts and reduced their reliance on prestigious titles. Despite these adjustments, standards continue to decline. What advantages do such measures confer? Might we introduce incremental steps to elevate these standards instead? Workers are increasingly demanding wage increases, farmers have already risen up, and urban rationing systems also require reform.
Starting January 1 of next year, changes will take effect: eight hours of sleep, four hours dedicated to meals and rest, and two hours for study. Farmers would benefit most from an 8:12:10 schedule, while workers would be better off with an 8:12 arrangement. Establishing a regular daily routine is crucial for sustainability; Sunday rest is essential.
Not resting, however, embodies the communist spirit. Labor is no longer motivated by monetary gain; it has transcended its role as a mere means of livelihood and become an intrinsic necessity of existence. I am not driven by 530 yuan, but by a deeper sense of purpose. To clarify this distinction, I propose conducting a survey to shift our focus—from personal concerns and individual interests—to a broader commitment to social endeavors.
This year has brought numerous positive developments, opening up new avenues and turning previously unthinkable possibilities into reality. It is precisely because of these successes that we now dare to contemplate granting one-third of our workforce time off.
Forestry, in particular, deserves greater recognition; we should not underestimate its significance. William said, “Combining agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry does not mean that planting trees is merely about greening the landscape.” In southern regions, this process typically requires 15 to 25 years, whereas in the north, it may take as long as 40 to 50 years. Trees must be planted densely, as they thrive better when grown alongside others; solitary trees tend to struggle. Even barren land can be revitalized: raising fish is akin to raising pigs, and planting trees resembles cultivating crops—digging a hole one meter deep and applying layered fertilization.
This year, we have undertaken large-scale reforestation efforts. While some argue that forests and coal resources are being squandered, others contend that these initiatives have yielded substantial benefits: millions of people have participated, uncovering valuable resources and gaining invaluable experience—both of which contribute to our income.
We should not evaluate everything solely based on living standards; otherwise, corrupt emperors and aristocrats would long ago have attained communism. Instead, we ought to assess needs, recognizing that a caloric intake equivalent to 500 calories is sufficient. Emperors and feudal lords who exceeded this threshold invariably suffered adverse consequences, while falling below it would also prove detrimental. Food comprises nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, money, salt, aluminum, phosphorus, and chlorine. Communism, too, relies on a balanced composition of these elements as nourishment; excesses must be avoided.
Article 40 remains valid, even as we mark fifteen years since its enactment. Ten years have already passed.