The founding of the Communist Party of China 99th

Founded in 1921, the CPC has grown from a small party of about 50 members into the world's largest ruling party, with more than 90 million members.

A brick-and-wood building on Xingye Road in Shanghai, where the CPC held its first national congress, has been packed with visitors in days leading to the anniversary.

In 1921, delegates representing about 50 CPC members nationwide convened the first national congress in the building, though they later had to move to a boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing of east China's Zhejiang Province due to harassment by local police.

The historic building has been open to the public as a museum since 1952.

Near Nanhu Lake, hundreds of members of the public gathered on a city square to present a chorus to wish the CPC a happy birthday. A relay run was held on Monday to commemorate the occasion.

"People say if you have a daughter, never marry her to someone from Qinggangba, because she would have nothing to eat but pickled vegetables," said Leng Chaogang, Party chief of the Qinggangba village at the conference.

"But now, people here have become rich thanks to good policies of the Party, dedicated work of the cadres, and the relentless strength of the people. We will continue to work harder to make our lives better," he said.