People swarm to Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on April 5, 1976, the tomb-sweeping festival, to commemorate Premier Zhou Enlai, who died on Jan 8. Wang Wenlan |
Villagers cry as they learn the news of Chairman Mao's death in Juejiao township, Rudong county, Jiangsu province, on Sept 9, 1976. Hong Zuren |
-- Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, the three most important founders of the People's Republic, die.
-- On July 28, a severe earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale kills 242,000 residents in Tangshan of Hebei province.
Lu Guilan is rescued 13 days after a strong earthquake that killed more than 240,000 people in Tangshan, Hebei province, on July 28, 1976. Wang Wenlan |
-- The "cultural revolution" is effectively ended with the arrest of the "Gang of Four" in October.
-- In April, Hua Guofeng becomes Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission as well as Premier.