The flag of China, officially the National Flag of the People's Republic of China and also often known as the Five-starred Red Flag is a Chinese red field charged in the canton (upper corner nearest the flagpole) with five golden stars. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in a semicircle set off towards the fly (the side farthest from the flag pole). It has been the national flag of China since the foundation of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.