The activities of changing social customs in New China originated from the patriotic health movement. On February 29th, 1952, American planes *** 14 batches 148 sorties invaded Dandong Snow and Fushun in China. Insects with viruses and bacteria first spread in Fushun, then spread in other areas, and launched a germ war against China. On March 14 of that year, the State Council decided to set up the Central Committee for Epidemic Prevention, with the task of leading the germ warfare and launching the patriotic health campaign. On March 19, the Central Committee for Epidemic Prevention issued instructions on bacteriological warfare to all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, requiring all localities to do a good job in killing flies, mosquitoes, fleas, rats and other vector insects. On July 10, People's Daily published an editorial entitled "Further Developing Patriotic Health Campaign", pointing out that patriotic health campaign is a major political task.

1On September 20th, 957, the Third Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China further clarified the tasks and purposes of the patriotic health campaign: "Eliminate the four evils, stress hygiene, eliminate diseases, invigorate the spirit, change customs, and transform the country."

1958 February 14, People's Daily published an editorial, pointing out that the patriotic health campaign centered on eliminating the "four pests" is to popularize health knowledge, get rid of superstitions, eliminate various diseases and their causes and improve people's health level through mass movements. Under the leadership of the party and the government, patriotic health campaigns have been vigorously carried out throughout the country, and the people have responded positively and made great achievements.

1960 in 1960, the CPC central Committee pointed out: "the central government now reminds comrades to pay attention to this problem and restart the patriotic health campaign that was relaxed in the past two years." And put forward a famous slogan: "be proud of hygiene and be ashamed of unsanitary." At the national conference on urban and rural health work held in 1960, two advanced typical experiences of transforming the health appearance of old urban and rural areas in Jishan County, Shanxi Province and Foshan City, Guangdong Province were introduced and popularized. New progress has been made in patriotic health campaigns around the country.

After 1970s, this movement expanded to change old customs, especially simple things about weddings and funerals. Oppose asking for bride price and advocate thrift. There are still some ways in some places. For example, in some places, people are buried within three days after death.