Over 100 years ago, the future leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Chen Duxiu, founded the first communist organization in Shanghai. At that time, many young people went to the office of La Jeunesse (《新青年》) magazine -the center of the New Culture Movement- to look for advice on how to save the country and the people. Chen, founder of the magazine and leader of the movement, gave them a warm welcome.
In August 1920, Chen asked Yu Xiusong to start the first Socialist Youth League (SYL, 社会主义青年团). Yu became secretary of the league.
To educate more young people, the league built the institute and offered language courses. As well as learning foreign languages，students would also study The Communist Manifesto (《共产党宣言》), which paved the way for the birth of the CPC. Its translator Chen Wangdao, then also a professor of Fudan University, delivered lectures.
In the 1920s, revolutionary pioneers including Mao ZedongestablishedSYLs in key cities. The first national congress of the Socialist Youth League of China was held in Guangzhou from May 5 to 10 in 1922, marking its official founding. In 1925, the organization changed its name to the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).
Almost every year in May, hundreds of teenagers gather at Tuanyida Square in Guangzhou. They take an oath (宣誓) to become members of the CYLC. The square, now a site for patriotic (爱国的) education for young people, is where the CYLC was born.
Now, the CYLC national congress takes place every five years. The latest was held in Beijing in 2018. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CYLC. The CYLC was born during the war and got over a lot of difficulties in the past century.
