Visitors queue at the mausoleum in Beijing where Mao Zedong's preserved body lies on public display on the 120th anniversary of his birth on December 26, 2013
Thousands stood through the night in Shaoshan near the childhood home of Mao, who led the country for 27 years.
"Mao was a great leader of the Chinese nation, he was a perfect person and for us young people he is someone to learn from," said Jiang Qi, 33, a construction company employee, as he watched fireworks streak above a giant statue of Mao, who died in 1976.
Mao fans -- including at least two Mao lookalikes -- jostled for position and bowed in front of the statue, while others shouted "Long live Chairman Mao!"
The 12-decade anniversary has a special resonance in China, which traditionally measured time in 60-year cycles.
Some of the celebrations had religious overtones, with pilgrims burning fragrant incense, bowing and calling for blessings from the man once known as the "Great Helmsman".
"We are lighting incense to express our thanks to Mao Zedong," said He Peng, a middle-aged woman who knelt on the ground and recited a poem in praise of him.
Much of the 1.94 billion yuan ($320 million) reportedly budgeted by Shaoshan for the anniversary went up in smoke during a fireworks display, which lasted more than four hours, and down the throats of the thousands who lined up for free noodles - a traditional birthday meal in China.
"Through eating these noodles we can be happy, they express long life and our love for Chairman Mao, who is great," said a 63-year-old woman surnamed Ding, after tucking into a steaming bowl, adding that Mao "defeated Japanese imperialism".
In Beijing, China's top seven-ranked politicians including Xi and Premier Li Keqiang visited the mausoleum where Mao's preserved body lies on public display on Thursday morning, the official Xinhua news agency said.
They bowed three times and "jointly recalled Comrade Mao's glorious achievements", it added in a brief report.
Vendors lined the streets selling Mao memorabilia in Shaoshan, where pilgrims wore red scarves and sung Mao-era songs such as "The East Is Red".
