Abstract: The century-long exploration of the Chinese path began with the founding of the Communist Party of China as a symbolic beginning.This path has two essential definitions,namely,modernization and adapting Marxism to China's conditions.China's modernization process is essentially related to Marxism because the foundation of China's modernization has to be laid by a radical social revolution,which has historically adopted a new democratic-socialist orientation.However,Marxism in China is essentially related to the modernization process in China,because only Marxism in China is essentially related to the practice of Chinese revolution,modernization construction and its reform.The contemporary form of Marxism is socialism with Chinese characteristics,which,in its new historical orientation,shows its great significance not only for China,but also for world socialism and the development of human society as a whole.This is a “world historical significance”,and the socialism with Chinese characteristics has a world historical significance because the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies not only in becoming a modern nation,but also in the fact that,while completing the task of modernization and appropriating the achievements of modern civilization,it is actively opening up the possibility of a new type of civilization.

Key words: Chinese path, century-long exploration, modernization, Marxism in China, new type of civilization