Li Decai, 71, hung himself more than two months ago after his collection of 200 Chairman Mao badges was stolen in Yanggao county, Shanxi Province.

Li took great pleasure in reminiscing about the days of yore and lecturing people in the street about Mao's theories.

This tragedy is an extreme example of how Chairman Mao is still widely commemorated.

The late revolutionary leader anchored the direction that China took in its modern history by expelling foreign invaders, leading the Communist Party of China to win the civil war that followed and forming the structure of the republic.

More than three decades after his death, many people still remember him despite the controversial policies that he spearheaded during his tenure. Public admiration draws millions of visitors every year to his hometown of Shaoshan, Xiangtan of Hunan Province, and his mausoleum in Beijing on Tiananmen Square remains a stop for many tourists to the capital.

It has been a tradition for local residents in Hunan to commemorate Mao's birthday on December 26 in various ways, even during their wedding ceremonies, as we can see in this group of pictures that won a prize during the 55th World Press Photo contest.

Global Times