on july 7, 1949, portraits of zhu de and mao zedong were hung to commemorate the second sino-japanese war. since the founding date of the people's republic of china on october 1, 1949, a singular portrait of mao has been hung on the gate. the portrait is replaced annually before national day. on only one occasion on march 9, 1953, it was temporarily replaced by a portrait of joseph stalin was to commemorate his death.