Dec. 26, 2014, was the 121st anniversary of China's former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong’s birth. These pictures capture celebrations in Mao's hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province. Various commemorative activities were also held nationwide to commemorate the anniversary.
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People hold posters of China's former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong, as they gather at a square to celebrate Mao's 121st birth anniversary in his hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 26, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
Tian Haiming, a sculptor, burns incense in front of a copper statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong before handing it to the buyer, in Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 8, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
People exercise with fans at a square in front of a giant portrait of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong at a railway station in Shaoshan, Mao's hometown, Hunan province, December 15, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
Fireworks explode above a square as nearly 100,000 people gather to celebrate the 121th birth anniversary of China's former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong in his hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 26, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A person holds a flag of China's former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong, as people gather at a square to celebrate Mao's 121st birth anniversary in his hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 25, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A train driver checks the "Mao Zedong" locomotive, which is pulling a passenger train traveling from Beijing to Changsha and bearing a portrait of the late chairman, as it makes a stop at a railway station in Wuhan, Hubei province, Dec. 27, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A worker makes a bronze statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong at a factory in Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 7, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A limestone statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong is seen in a yard in Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 6, 2014. Friday, Dec. 26, 2014 marked the 121st birth anniversary of Mao.
Photo:Reuters
Ren Zhenlong (front), an impersonator of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong, waves next to people dressed as Red Army soldiers during a performance to celebrate the upcoming 121st anniversary of Mao's birth in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Dec. 13, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A worker carries a wax mould of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong as he walks out of a factory which produces statues of Mao in Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 7, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
A re-enactment actor (2nd L) portraying China's former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong gestures as he speaks to people gathered at a square to celebrate Mao's 121st birth anniversary in his hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 25, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
Newly made bronze statues of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong are seen covered by a red cloth at a statue factory in Mao's hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan province, Dec. 7, 2014.
Photo:Reuters
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