To what extent did life improve between 1949 and the early 1960s in Communist China?

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To what extent did life improve between 1949 and the early 1960s in Communist China?

On the 1st of October 1949 Mao Tse-Sung declared the Peoples Republic of China. This drastically changed the lives of most people living in China. Some people had already been under Communist rule before 1949, in liberation areas, for them life hardly changed. However the majority of people lived under the Kuomintang before 1949, and for them life completely changed. Women for example, were considered as men's possessions and were subjected to outdated practices and cruel humiliations, like foot binding. Some were married at birth and many were treated like domestic servants. Peasants didn't lead a good life in KMT areas either. Land taxes were high and took around half a peasants income, peasants led a poverty stricken harsh life, and between 1929 and 1932 three million peasants died of starvation. The main group of people that led a good life under the KMT were the businessmen and the landed class. They benefited from a strong government and high taxes, especially high land taxes. Urban areas were also improved and the infrastructure and a lot of industry were modernised.

However the Communists