View source for Communist Youth League of China

{{Short description|Youth division of the Chinese Communist Party}}
{{redirect|Communist Youth League|other Young Communist Leagues|Young Communist League}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox political youth organization
| name = Communist Youth League of China
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|中国共产主义青年团}}}}
| colorcode = Red
| logo = [[File:China Youth League logo.svg|120px]]
| logo2 = [[File:China Flag CCYL.svg|150px]]
| secretary2 = [[A Dong]]
| founded = {{ubl|{{start date and age|df=y|1920}} (foundation)|{{start date and age|df=y|1922|5|5}} (official)}}
| headquarters = No. 10, Qianmen Dongdajie, [[Beijing]]
| newspaper = ''[[China Youth Daily]]''
| mother party = [[Chinese Communist Party]]
| international = {{ubl|[[Young Communist International]] (historical)|[[World Federation of Democratic Youth]] (historical)}}
| membership =74,167,000 
| ideology = {{collapsible list
 | title = {{nobold|[[Socialism with Chinese characteristics]]}}
 | bullets = yes
 | [[Communism]]
 | [[Marxism-Leninism]]
 | [[Maoism|Mao Zedong Thought]]
 | [[Deng Xiaoping Theory]]
 | [[Three Represents]]
 | [[Scientific Outlook on Development]]
 | [[Xi Jinping Thought]]
 | [[Socialist patriotism]]
}}
| regional1_type =
| regional1_name =
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Chinese
| order = st
| s = 中国共产主义青年团
| t = 中國共產主義青年團
| p = Zhōngguó Gòngchǎnzhǔyì Qīngniántuán
| w = Chung<sup>1</sup>-kuo<sup>2</sup> Kung<sup>4</sup>-ch'an<sup>3</sup>-chu<sup>4</sup>-i<sup>4</sup> Ch'ing<sup>1</sup>-nien<sup>2</sup>-t'uan<sup>2</sup>
| l = Communist Youth League of China
| altname = Abbreviation
| s2 = 共青团
| t2 = 共青團
| p2 = Gòngqīngtuán
| w2 = Kung<sup>4</sup>-ch'ing<sup>1</sup>-t'uan<sup>2</sup>
| l2 = Communist Youth League
| altname3 = Original name
| s3 = 中国社会主义青年团
| t3 = 中國社會主義青年團
| p3 = Zhōngguó Shèhuìzhǔyì Qīngniántuán
| w3 = Chung<sup>1</sup>-kuo<sup>2</sup> She<sup>4</sup>-hui<sup>4</sup>-chu<sup>3</sup>-i<sup>4</sup> Ch'ing<sup>1</sup>-nien<sup>2</sup>-t'uan<sup>2</sup>
| l3 = Socialist Youth League of China
| altname4 = Wartime name
| s4 = 中国新民主主义青年团
| t4 = 中國新民主主義青年團
| p4 = Zhōngguó Xīn Mínzhǔzhǔyì Qīngniántuán
| w4 = Chung<sup>1</sup>-kuo<sup>2</sup> Hsin<sup>1</sup> Min<sup>2</sup>-chu<sup>3</sup>-chu<sup>3</sup>-i<sup>4</sup> Ch'ing<sup>1</sup>-nien<sup>2</sup>-t'uan<sup>2</sup>
| l4 = China New Democracy Youth League
}}

The '''Communist Youth League of China''' ('''CYLC'''; also known as the '''Young Communist League of China''' or simply the '''Communist Youth League''' or '''CYL''') is a [[people's organization]] of the [[People's Republic of China]] for youth between the ages of 14 and 28, run by the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP). The league is organized on the party pattern.{{sfn|Ristaino|1988|p=420}} Its leader is its First Secretary, who is an alternate member of the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|Central Committee]] of the CCP. The incumbent First Secretary is [[A Dong]], appointed in May 2023. The Communist Youth League is also responsible for guiding the activities of the [[Young Pioneers of China|Young Pioneers]] (for children below the age of 14).{{sfn|Ristaino|1988|p=421}}

CYLC was historically seen as a vehicle that could promote the future careers of CCP officials, with these officials being collectively named the ''[[Tuanpai]]'', also known as the Youth League Faction. Though prominent Youth League officials have held important posts within the CCP, most notably CCP general secretary [[Hu Jintao]], the influence of the CYLC has decreased under CCP general secretary [[Xi Jinping]].

== History ==

Founded in May 1920, it was originally named as the '''Socialist Youth League of China'''.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=17}} While the CCP was officially established in July 1921, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was organized prior to the CCP's establishment. In May 1922, the 1st National Congress ({{zh|s=全国代表大会|t=全國代表大會|p=Quánguó Dàibiǎo Dàhuì}}) of the League was held under the leadership of the CCP,<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=17}} and therefore became a unified organization in China. In the [[3rd National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|3rd National Congress]] in January 1925, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was renamed as the Chinese Communist Youth League. After the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], in order to adapt to the new social and political situation, it was officially renamed as the '''Chinese New Democracy Youth League''' in April 1949.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

Later in May 1957, its name as the Chinese Communist Youth League was resumed, historically combining the congresses of all three leagues (the Chinese Socialist Youth League, the Chinese Communist Youth League as well as the Chinese New Democracy Youth League).{{cn|date=August 2023}} 

Prior to the [[Cultural Revolution]], the CYLC was a major mass organization which had an important role in political mobilization  and implementing party-state policies.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=17}} During the Cultural Revolution, the CYLC was accused of [[Revisionism (Marxism)|revisionism]] and stopped operating in 1966.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=17}} Various local CYLC operations began resuming after the end of the Cultural Revolution and the CYLC was resumed national operations in 1978.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=17}}

Following the Mao era, the CYLC has been a major path to CCP membership.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=21}} This became especially true after the 1982 establishment of the "Recommendation of Outstanding CYL Members" system, which emphasized that those under the age of 28 who wish to join the CCP should be recommended by the CYLC.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=21}}

In 1988, reformist Chinese policymakers proposed a project to loosen CCP control of the CYLC and make the organization more independent.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=18}} However, CCP leadership set aside the reform proposal following the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre]].<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=18}}

Also in the late 1980s and in an attempt to increase the relevance of the CYLC and make it more "responsive",<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Graziani |first=Sofia |date=2021-12-30 |title=Between Chinese Youth and the Party: The Communist Youth League's Revival and Adjustments in the Early Post-Mao Era |journal=The Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies |language=en |volume=2 |pages=83–125 |doi=10.25365/jeacs.2021.2.83-125 |issn=2709-9946 |doi-access=free}}</ref> the CYLC diversified its activities, beginning to organize classes for CCP applicants and hosting leisure activities in addition to the CYLC's political activities.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|pages=37-38}} Along with university student unions, the CYLC began hosting on-campus cultural activities like singing, poetry, and sports competitions.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=38}} In 1989, the CYLC's central body organized a national "challenge cup" science competition, which was later also adopted by various universities.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=38}}

After the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, community service activities expanded in the 1990s.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=38}} In 1993, the CYLC started The Young Volunteers Operation.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=18}} Through this program, the CYLC has channeled millions of volunteers into poverty alleviation, educational assistance, and environmental protection projects.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=18}} The CYLC has also mobilized university student volunteers to participate in the China Youth Development Foundation's [[Project Hope]], which focuses on educational assistance to primary school children in China's least developed regions.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=38}}

In 2003, the CYLC started the  “plan for university graduates voluntary service to the West” (''daxuesheng zhiyuan fuwu xibu jihua'', 大学生志愿服务 西部计划) as part of its effort to promote volunteer service.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=57}} If accepted into the program after passing an exam, university graduates work for three years in underdeveloped parts of [[western China]].<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=57}}

The Communist Youth League has contributed a number of top echelon leaders of the CCP-led government of the People's Republic of China. The proliferation of leaders with a Youth League background has led to the informal name "''[[Tuanpai]]''" (abbreviation for "Youth League faction") being used to describe certain members of the leadership at different times. The first "Youth League faction" was represented by [[Hu Yaobang]].{{cn|date=July 2023}} The second "Youth League faction" is represented by [[Hu Jintao]]. While there is no direct political lineage between the two Hus, Hu Jintao's administration formally elevated the memory of the earlier Hu. In 2005, the 90th anniversary of Hu Yaobang's birth, a new museum and a series of commemorative books and television programs were launched. During the Hu Jintao era, CYLC membership expanded as the organization recruited broadly.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=39}}

During the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, the CYLC mobilized 1.7 million volunteers to assist with the Olympics.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=130}}

The death of the son of [[Ling Jihua]] and Gu Liping, a couple associated with the Communist Youth League, may have tarnished the reputation of the organization as a path to power.<ref name="AS03513">{{cite news |date=5 March 2013 |title=PREMIER LEAGUE: After fatal Ferrari crash, careers are stalled, group loses power |url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/china/AJ201303050004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308051543/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/china/AJ201303050004 |archive-date=8 March 2013 |access-date=5 March 2013 |newspaper=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref>

Current [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of China|CCP general secretary]] [[Xi Jinping]] has sought to reduce the prominence of the CCP's youth wing, stating that "All they [cadres] can do is just repeat the same old bureaucratic, stereotypical talk".<ref name="SCMP">{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2112461/latest-xi-jinping-book-gives-clues-decline-communist?mc_cid=1f9bc1ec42&mc_eid=1f9d28130a |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]] |title=Latest Xi Jinping book gives clues on decline of Communist Party's youth wing |date=23 September 2017 |first=Nectar |last=Gan |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014163041/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2112461/latest-xi-jinping-book-gives-clues-decline-communist?mc_cid=1f9bc1ec42&mc_eid=1f9d28130a |archive-date=14 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Nikkei">{{cite news |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Features/China-up-close/Xi-silences-once-powerful-youth-league-and-former-president-s-protege?mc_cid=1f9bc1ec42&mc_eid=1f9d28130a |newspaper=[[Nikkei Asian Review]] |first=Katsuji |last=Nakazawa |title=Xi silences once-powerful youth league and former president's protege |date=25 September 2017 |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014134152/https://asia.nikkei.com/Features/China-up-close/Xi-silences-once-powerful-youth-league-and-former-president-s-protege?mc_cid=1f9bc1ec42&mc_eid=1f9d28130a |archive-date=14 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Political commentators have noted that the diminishing of the ''Tuanpai'' curtailed the influence of former [[paramount leader]] Hu Jintao, solidifying Xi's own political faction.<ref name="Nikkei"/> Following Xi's more critical stance of the CYLC, its membership has decreased.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=22}} 

CYLC's budget was cut, dropping from around 700 million yuan ($96 million) in 2012 to 260 million yuan ($40 million) in 2021, while its membership dropped from 90 million to 74 million in the same period.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Martin |date=26 October 2022 |title=China's Xi deals knockout blow to once-powerful Youth League faction |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-deals-knockout-blow-once-powerful-youth-league-faction-2022-10-26/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524163327/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-deals-knockout-blow-once-powerful-youth-league-faction-2022-10-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Communist rappers are luring young disgruntled Chinese |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2023/10/02/communist-rappers-are-luring-chinas-disgruntled-youth |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-10-04 |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405011830/https://www.economist.com/china/2023/10/02/communist-rappers-are-luring-chinas-disgruntled-youth |url-status=live }}</ref> Xi effectively closed the Central School of China Communist Youth League, folding it into the [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]].<ref name="Nikkei" /> He also effectively demoted [[Qin Yizhi]], first secretary of the CYLC in 2017.<ref name="veconomist">{{cite news |date=14 October 2017 |title=Xi Jinping has been good for China's Communist Party; less so for China |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2017/10/14/xi-jinping-has-been-good-for-chinas-communist-party-less-so-for-china |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 October 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920155430/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2017/10/14/xi-jinping-has-been-good-for-chinas-communist-party-less-so-for-china |url-status=live }}</ref> During the Xi-era, the CYLC's rule that non-cadre over the age of 28 must leave the organization has been more strictly enforced.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=22}}

At the CYLC's centennial in May 2022, Xi described the organization as the "party's loyal assistant and reliable reserve force."<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Doyon |first=Jérôme |title=Rejuvenating Communism: Youth Organizations and Elite Renewal in Post-Mao China |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-472-90294-1 |pages= |doi=10.3998/mpub.12291596 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{Rp|page=16}}

== Structure ==
[[File:Central committee of the Communist Youth League of China (20170314111509).jpg|thumb|Communist Youth League headquarters]]
The CYLC is active at every political level of China, and most active in social structures which include many young people like schools and universities.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=16}} By the end of 2002, there were approximately 210,000 committee members of fundamental organizations. 2021 estimates put the number of Youth League members at over 81 million.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tsimonis |first=Konstantinos |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/82638 |title=The Chinese Communist Youth League: Juniority and Responsiveness in a Party Youth Organization |date=2021 |publisher=[[Amsterdam University Press]] |isbn=978-90-485-4264-2 |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104191419/https://muse.jhu.edu/book/82638 |url-status=live }}</ref>

CYLC local groups (including those which are associated with institutions like universities or [[State-owned enterprises of China|state-owned enterprises]])  send a total of 1,500 representatives to the CYLC National Congress, which is held every five years.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=143}} The National Congress in turn elects the CYLC Central Committee, which is composed of 200 representatives and 120 alternates.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=143}} Smaller CYLC congresses and committee plenums are also held.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=143}}

The CYLC directly manages the [[All-China Youth Federation]].<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=19}} The All-China Youth Federation in turn serves as a consultative body to the CYLC.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=19}} The All-China Youth Federation is also an umbrella organization which includes the [[Young Pioneers of China]], among other youth-focused groups.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=19}} The CYLC is also the parent entity of other youth-related projects, such as the [[China Youth Development Foundation|China Youth Development Fund]].<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=19}} The CYLC supervises university student societies through one of its departments.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=36}}
=== Revenue ===
The CYLC's offices and staff salaries are paid for with government funding.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=126}} It also collects membership dues on a sliding scale depending on a member's salary.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=126}}

== Membership and training ==
{{Further|Cadre system of the Chinese Communist Party}}
Officially defined as a "reserve force" for the CCP, the CYLC's purpose is to recruit and train young people who may become future party members and officials.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=21}} In addition to the CYLC members it trains for future involvement in the party, the CYLC employs young party cadre who lead the organization, providing them with experience for subsequent leadership roles in other aspects of the party-state.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=21}}

Joining the league is relatively easy.<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=David Daokui |title=China's World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict |date=2024 |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |isbn=978-0393292398 |location=New York, NY |author-link=David Daokui Li}}</ref>{{Rp|page=65}} Prospective members must submit an application statement and be approved by the local branch, which do not typically take a highly selective stance.<ref name=":022" />{{Rp|page=65}} All CYLC members and their personal details are tracked in a database known as Smart League Building.<ref name=":1" /> {{As of|2020}}, CYLC members outside of China are required to "regularly report personal situations" while abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Sun |date=July 3, 2024 |title=China demands loyalty from young expats in the US |url=https://www.ft.com/content/43ccc5be-29a6-45c0-b4be-547937cae946 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=[[Financial Times]] |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703113826/https://www.ft.com/content/43ccc5be-29a6-45c0-b4be-547937cae946 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By the end of 2023, the CYLC had 74.167 million members and 4.316 million organizations throughout China.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=3 May 2024 |title=全国共有共青团员7416.7万名 |trans-title=There are 74.167 million members of the Communist Youth League nationwide. |url=http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2024/0503/c164113-40228522.html |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=[[People's Daily]] |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503141935/http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2024/0503/c164113-40228522.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Among them, there were 3,000 local committees, 193,000 grassroot committees, 1.905 million organizations at schools with 38.245 million members, 910 thousand enterprise organizations with 7.21 million members, 360 thousand government organizations with 4.419 million members, 942 thousand organizations at [[Subdistricts of China|subdistricts]], [[Townships of China|townships]], communities, and administrative villages with 21.737 million members, and 199 thousand organizations in social organizations and other fields with 2.556 million members.<ref name=":2" />

== Media ==
CYLC's newspaper is the ''[[China Youth Daily]]''.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=114}}

As it lost political influence under Xi, CYLC has started to increase its presence on social media, appealing to nationalism and attacking foreign brands in China accused of misbehavior.<ref name=":10" /> The social media accounts of the CYLC have engaged in harassment of foreign journalists, including during the [[2021 Henan floods]] when the Communist Youth League asked its social media followers to locate and report the location of a [[BBC News]] journalist on assignment covering the story. They also accused foreign reporters in general of slandering China with their reporting about the floods.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wade |first1=Stephen |date=2 August 2021 |title=Beijing Games: Sports coverage fine, other things maybe not |website= |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-china-beijing-winter-olympics-b9c995b55ea3a71772c7a70b170e6073 |access-date=4 August 2021 |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803204527/https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-china-beijing-winter-olympics-b9c995b55ea3a71772c7a70b170e6073 |url-status=live }}</ref> CYLC has also spread [[COVID-19 misinformation by China|COVID-19 disinformation]] and attacked [[List of Chinese dissidents|Chinese dissidents]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2022, the CYLC's social media account exclaimed that "[e]xtreme feminism has become a poisonous tumour on the Internet."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Yifan |last2=Gong |first2=Qian |date=2023-01-23 |title=Unpacking 'baby man' in Chinese social media: a feminist critical discourse analysis |journal=Critical Discourse Studies |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=400–417 |doi=10.1080/17405904.2023.2169726 |issn=1740-5904 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Anthem ===
In 1987, the first anthem of CYLC was composed.
{{vunblist|"Glorious! Communist Youth League of China"|{{lang|zh-hans|光荣啊！中国共青团}}}} (Guāngróng a! Zhōngguó gòngqīngtuán)
{| cellpadding="10"
![[Simplified Chinese]] (with [[Pinyin]])
![[English language|English]] lyrics
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem lang="zh-hans" style="font-size:100%">
{{ruby-zh-p|我们|Wǒmen}}{{ruby-zh-p|是|shì}}{{ruby-zh-p|五|wǔ}}{{ruby-zh-p|月|yuè}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|花|huā}}{{ruby-zh-p|海|hǎi,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|用|Yòng}}{{ruby-zh-p|青春|qīngchūn}}{{ruby-zh-p|拥抱|yǒngbào}}{{ruby-zh-p|时代|shídài;}};
{{ruby-zh-p|我们|Wǒmen}}{{ruby-zh-p|是|shì}}{{ruby-zh-p|初|chū}}{{ruby-zh-p|升|shēng}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|太阳|tàiyáng,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|用|Yòng}}{{ruby-zh-p|生命|shēngmìng}}{{ruby-zh-p|点燃|diǎnrán}}{{ruby-zh-p|未来|wèilái.}}。
{{ruby-zh-p|五四|Wǔsì}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|火炬|huǒjù,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|唤起了|Huànqǐle}}{{ruby-zh-p|民族|mínzú}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|觉醒|juéxǐng.}}。
{{ruby-zh-p|壮丽|Zhuànglì}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|事业|shìyè,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|激励着|Jīlìzhe}}{{ruby-zh-p|我们|wǒmen}}{{ruby-zh-p|继往开来|jìwǎngkāilái.}}。
{{ruby-zh-p|光荣啊|Guāngróng a,}}，{{ruby-zh-p|中国|zhōngguó}}{{ruby-zh-p|共青团|gòngqīngtuán,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|光荣啊|Guāngróng a,}}，{{ruby-zh-p|中国|zhōngguó}}{{ruby-zh-p|共青团|gòngqīngtuán.}}。
{{ruby-zh-p|母亲|Mǔqīn}}{{ruby-zh-p|用|yòng}}{{ruby-zh-p|共产|gòngchǎn}}{{ruby-zh-p|主义|zhǔyì}}{{ruby-zh-p|为|wèi}}{{ruby-zh-p|我们|wǒmen}}{{ruby-zh-p|命名|mìngmíng,}}，
{{ruby-zh-p|我们|Wǒmen}}{{ruby-zh-p|开|kāi}}{{ruby-zh-p|创新|chuàngxīn}}{{ruby-zh-p|的|de}}{{ruby-zh-p|世界|shìjiè.}}。</poem>
|<poem lang="en" style="font-size:100%">

We are the flowers of May,
Who embrace the age of youth;
We are the rising sun,
Who ignites the future with life.
The torch of The May Fourth Movement,
Aroused the awakening of the nation.
A magnificent career,
Inspires us to carry on the future.
Glorious! Communist Youth League of China,
Glorious! Communist Youth League of China.
Mother named us with communism.
We are creating a new world.
</poem>
|}

== List of First Secretaries ==
*[[Yu Xiusong]] ({{lang|zh|俞秀松}}): 1920–1922
*[[Shi Cuntong]] ({{lang|zh|施存统}}): 1922–1925
*[[Zhang Tailei]] ({{lang|zh|张太雷}}): 1925–1927
*[[Ren Bishi]] ({{lang|zh|任弼时}}): 1927–1928
*Guan Xiangying ({{lang|zh|关向应}}): 1928–1946
*Feng Wenbin ({{lang|zh|馮文彬}}): 1949–1953
*[[Hu Yaobang]] ({{lang|zh|胡耀邦}}): 1953–1978
*Han Ying ({{lang|zh|韩英}}): 1978–1982
*[[Wang Zhaoguo]] ({{lang|zh|王兆国}}): 1982–1984
*[[Hu Jintao]] ({{lang|zh|胡锦涛}}): 1984–1985
*[[Song Defu (politician)|Song Defu]] ({{lang|zh|宋德福}}): 1985–1993
*[[Li Keqiang]] ({{lang|zh|李克强}}): 1993–1998
*[[Zhou Qiang]] ({{lang|zh|周强}}): 1998–2006
*[[Hu Chunhua]] ({{lang|zh|胡春华}}): 2006–2008
*[[Lu Hao (born 1967)|Lu Hao]] ({{lang|zh|陆昊}}): 2008–2013
*[[Qin Yizhi]] ({{lang|zh|秦宜智}}): 2013–2017
*[[He Junke]] ({{lang|zh|贺军科}}): 2018–2023<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.waonews.com/news/21315-He_Junke_was_elected_the_first_Secretary_of_the_Central_Committee_of_the_Communist_Youth_League.html |title=He Junke was elected the first Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. &#124; waonews |access-date=4 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704093044/https://www.waonews.com/news/21315-He_Junke_was_elected_the_first_Secretary_of_the_Central_Committee_of_the_Communist_Youth_League.html |archive-date=4 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[A Dong]] ({{lang|zh|阿东}}): 2023–<ref>{{cite news |date=2023-05-31 |title=阿东任共青团中央书记处第一书记 最年轻正部级领导 |work=[[Lianhe Zaobao]] |url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20230531-1399871 |access-date=1 June 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531190807/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20230531-1399871 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Chronology of National Congresses ==
*1st National Congress (Socialist Youth League): 5–10 May 1922
*2nd National Congress (Socialist Youth League): 2–25 August 1923
*3rd National Congress (Socialist Youth League): 26–30 January 1925
*4th National Congress: 10–16 May 1927
*5th National Congress: 12–16 July 1928
*6th National Congress (1st Congress, New Democratic Youth League): 11–18 April 1949
*7th National Congress (2nd Congress, New Democratic Youth League): 23 June–2 July 1953
*8th National Congress (3rd Congress, New Democratic Youth League): 12–25 May 1957
*9th National Congress: 11–29 June 1964
*10th National Congress: 16–26 October 1978
*11th National Congress: 20–30 December 1982
*12th National Congress: 4–8 May 1988
*13th National Congress: 3–10 May 1993
*14th National Congress: 19–25 June 1998
*15th National Congress: 22–26 July 2003
*16th National Congress: 10–13 June 2008
*17th National Congress: 17–21 June 2013
*18th National Congress: 26–29 June 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://h.bilibili.com/4950980|title=micro-blog of Communist Youth League of China|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180146/https://h.bilibili.com/4950980|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
*19th National Congress: 19–22 June 2023<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=23 June 2023 |title=China's Communist Youth League wraps up national congress |url=https://english.news.cn/20230623/a50a6bc92bf8481c811a176c63e8cc53/c.html |access-date=2 July 2023 |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703141628/https://english.news.cn/20230623/a50a6bc92bf8481c811a176c63e8cc53/c.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Komsomol]]
*[[Socialist Patriotic Youth League]]
*[[China Youth University of Political Studies]]
*[[Kuomintang Youth League]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Country study|country=China|abbr=cn|editor-last1=Worden|editor-first1=Robert L.|editor-last2=Savada|editor-first2=Andrea Matles|editor-last3=Dolan|editor-first3=Ronald E.|date=1988|section="Party and Government", pp. 407–442|last=Ristaino|first=Marcia R.|pd=yes<!-- yes/no – no removes the notice about pd text -->|edition=Fourth|oclc=232918611}}

== External links ==
{{Library resources box}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Communist youth wings}}
{{Chinese Communist Party}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Communist Youth League of China}}
[[Category:Communist Youth League of China| ]]
[[Category:Chinese Communist Party]]
[[Category:Youth organizations based in China]]
[[Category:Youth wings of communist parties]]
[[Category:Youth wings of political parties in China]]
[[Category:Youth organizations established in 1920]]
[[Category:1920 establishments in China]]
[[Category:Antifeminism]]