China has marked the one hundred and fifth anniversary of the birth of the late revolutionary leader Mao Tse-tung with the release of books, films and a computer disc CD-ROM of his political thoughts -- illustrated by thousands of pictures and video clips from official archives.

Chinese television is running a six-part documentary on Chairman Mao's early life.

And his selected works and thoughts have also been reissued to mark the event.

Chairman Mao -- who ruled China for three decades -- was renowned for his "Little Red Book", once seen as the mantra for the country's youth.

Much of his radical communist policies have been reviewed since his death in 1976 but correspondents say the ruling Communist party continues to use Mao's legacy to reinforce its own legitimacy.