How did the soviet union and china differ in terms of the revolutions that brought communists to power and in the construction of socialist societies? what commonalities are also apparent?

Workers v. Peasants--the revolution in Russia was a workers revolt led by intellectuals whereas the revolution in China was a peasant revolt led by farmers and rural members of society.

The Russian Revolution was one that was led by soldiers and urban workers. The leadership was intellectual and the Soviet government was run, initially, as a textbook Soviet revolution.

The Chinese Revolution was led by a peasant and was almost entirely a peasant revolution. The peasant class was rising up against Western influence and take over of cities by a Nationalist government or Western powers. The focus of the revolution returned the country to farming and collective agrarian economy.