Final answer:
The 'three bitter years' in China refer to the period following the failure of Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward policy, which resulted in a catastrophic famine and the deaths of millions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three bitter years were recalled by the Chinese government after the failure of the Great Leap Forward policy. Initiated by Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward was a significant policy attempting to transform China from a primarily agrarian economy into a modern industrial society through rapid industrialization and collectivization. This policy, however, led to an unprecedented famine, resulting in the deaths of 30 to 40 million people due to the artificial lowering of food prices, which severely depressed farm production and led to a sharp decline in agriculture.