Chairman Mao's aim was to reinforce Communism by removing any trace of capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society.
It proved chaotic, causing widespread violence and abuse.
But Mao's vision of a classless society is still proving persuasive.
Several times a week a group of Chinese nostalgics gather in a plaza in the city of Luoyang to sing songs praising the founder of modern China, Mao Zedong.
Their display includes a clothesline with dozens of essays, either reappraising Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution or condemning the past 30 years of liberalisation in China.
Among the performers is Zhao Shunli, a retired veteran who collects Red Guard uniforms and memorabilia dedicated to Mao.
"The 30 years since the reforms have shown that this was totally wrong. The reforms did not bring any benefit to our country or to our lives. They did not bring any development to our economy and our industry."
As with previous years, China has no plans to officially commemorate 50 years since Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution, the movement that stalled the country's fortunes and triggered the torture and deaths of millions.
Official records omit to provide details of the period, but admit Mao did make major mistakes.
Nevertheless, Maoists still long for China to reverse its current path toward market capitalism and return to its vision of an equal society steered by a powerful and ideologically pure leader.
Most Maoists have embraced China's current President Xi Jinping as one of their own, encouraged by his crusade against corrupt party leaders and demands for ideological conformity.
But writer and historian Zhang Lifan says it's making China's economic transition more painful.
"The people who feel nostalgic about the Cultural Revolution are usually old, retired workers, and officials from Mao's era. They believed they had a high status under Mao's leadership, so they feel nostalgic of that era. It's pretty silly. There's a Chinese saying: 'You still trust the one who already cheated you.' This situation remains because the current society is very unstable. The unequal distribution of wealth makes people unhappy and it drives people to long for Mao Zedong."
Today, young people are also being drawn to Chairman Mao's vision.
In the city of Baoding, the Righteous Path Farm houses around 70 people who work for no salary.
27 year old Mao Xiaolong says he's been there since August last year because he doesn't feel comfortable in China's highly competitive and materialistic society.
"In society, there are many crises and each individual has to fight for himself. That's pointless. To get ahead in society, we have to make more money and climb to a higher status. It's really useless. It's more valuable to fight for the group as a whole."
The farm's founder is prominent Maoist Professor Han Deqiang, who admits some of their products, like strawberries and plums, are sold online to cover land rent.
"Under Mao, prices didn't budge in 30 years. Even though you had a small income, it was stable and secure. Now prices keep increasing, so with the same amount of money you can buy fewer things. Under Mao, you felt safe everywhere you went. This feeling came from society as a whole, as well as interpersonal relations. You didn't need to defend yourself, you didn't need to worry about people scamming you on the phone, for example. For all these things, some people miss life under Mao Zedong."
As for the Cultural Revolution, many topics remain off limits in China and there are virtually no museums or memorials that explore such a painful period in its modern history.
But there have been signs of progress.
In 2005, entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan began publicly displaying his collection of revolution relics in Chengdu, from statues and busts to badges and posters.
"I think the idea of overturning the conviction of the Cultural Revolution, or cherishing it isn't right. We should continue taking a path towards reform and opening up, which has been proven right in recent decades. We can solve any problems step by step rather than learning lessons from the Cultural Revolution. I think people will definitely be able to realise the 'Chinese Dream' proposed by President Xi Jinping of achieving the great rejuvenation in China, as long as we keep moving forward and remembers our history, experience and lessons."
Luo Qingsong is one of many students who say the exhibit answers many questions that textbooks don't cover.
He says anyone who glorifies the revolution is sorely mistaken.
"I think maybe they are irrational. I think the current China is an open China that is integrated into the world. Such a wrong movement will never happen again. I believe our Party, our country and our leadership will not formulate such incorrect guidelines again."
