Chairman Mao´s 114th birth anniversary celebrated in China

Chinese people have carried out a series of activities in celebration of the anniversary of China's revolutionary founder Mao Zedong's 114th birthday.

The homepage of the special website on late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong, which opened on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, the 114 birth anniversary of the late Chinese leader. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/cpc.people.com.cn]

Mao Zedong was born on December 26, 1893, in the village Shaoshan, located 104 kilometers from Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan province.

In the hometown of the late leader, construction of the main body of a museum on Mao Zedong's literature and art was completed on Wednesday.

The museum takes up about one hectare, and the investment exceeds 30 million yuan, or about 4 million US dollars.

Scheduled for opening on December 26 next year, the museum will exhibit Mao's literature and calligraphy works, and original photos of Mao.

Mao Zedong's former residence was opened to tourists in 1950. Since then, the village has become a hot "red tourism" destination. On Wednesday, the village of Shaoshan received thousands of visitors.

A local government official said tourism income in the village this year is expected to exceed 552 million yuan, or about 73 million US dollars.

Also on Wednesday, Beijing's Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall launched an online memorial hall through which netizens can present imaginary flowers and leave their messages on its official Web site. Many other Chinese web sites also carried special coverage of the anniversary.

A set of Mao Zedong 2008 commemorative coins was issued recently. The coins, which are made of gold and jade in the style of 2008 Beijing Olympic medals, feature ten different portraits of Mao Zedong on the front, and milestone places for Mao on the back. Only 2008 sets, with a face value of 16,800 yuan, were issued.