Asia · Star on a plain field
How to draw the flag of China
The flag of China is one or more stars on a plain field in red and yellow, with one large star and four small stars. It flies at a ratio of 2:3.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. China flies at 2:3 — for every 3 units of width the flag is 2 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Block in the background. Fill the whole flag with red first, then build the rest on top of it. Working from the largest area to the smallest keeps the proportions honest.
- Add the yellow. One or more stars on a plain field. Place these shapes by eye against the edges of the flag, not against each other.
- Finish with the one large star and four small stars. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
China flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Red | #EE1C25 | rgb(238, 28, 37) |
| Yellow | #FFFF00 | rgb(255, 255, 0) |
What the flag means
The large star stands for the Communist Party; the four smaller stars, each with one point aimed at it, stand for the classes of Chinese society.
Common mistakes
- Spreading the five stars across the flag. All five sit in the upper hoist quarter, and the four small ones curve around the big one.
- Watch out for Vietnam — it is close enough to China that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
One big star, four small ones in an arc to its right, all crowded into the top-left corner.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the China flag
What colours are on the flag of China?
China uses 2 colours: red (#EE1C25), yellow (#FFFF00).
What are the proportions of the China flag?
It flies at 2:3 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the China flag mean?
The large star stands for the Communist Party; the four smaller stars, each with one point aimed at it, stand for the classes of Chinese society.
Which flags look like the China flag?
Vietnam. Watch out for Vietnam — it is close enough to China that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the China flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 3 out of 5. The colours are simple; the arrangement is what catches people out.
