once famous for pillaging

pillage verb [ I or T ] formal uk /ˈpɪl.ɪdʒ/ us /ˈpɪl.ɪdʒ/ to steal something from a place or a person by using violence, especially during war

Pretty sure that doesn't apply to China, unless you're talking about the revolution itself being an act of pillaging by the proletariat seizing the means.