When did the great leap forward take place?

The correct answer is - between 1958 and 1962.

The Great Leap Forward was an economic and social reform introduced by the Communist Party of China. This reform took place between the years of 1958 and 1962. The person standing behind it and that gave authorization for it was the infamous Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The purpose of this reform was to industrialize China, thus boost its economy, as well as to strengthen the position and authority of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China as a whole.

The Great Leap Forward though did not lived up to the expectations. Instead of making China stronger, it actually made a bigger mess of its economy, including the most important sector, the agriculture. There was lack of food and the people were starving, though Mao Zedong was standing firm on it that it is a good and productive reform for the country in order to not admit that he made a huge mistake.