BEIJING, Dec. 25 -- A number of books and videos on former Chinese leader Mao Zedong have been released to commemorate his 120th anniversary.

A 50-part television series, co-produced by the publicity authorities of central China's Hunan Province and China Central Television, covers the Chinese people's grievances and national turmoil from 1901 to 1949, as well as Mao's contribution to the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.

The series also shows Mao's thoughts, morals and demeanor in the revolutionary times, as well as his revolutionary, strategist and militarist sides.

Two films showing Mao's friendship with contemporary Chinese artist Qi Baishi and his childhood life in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, where he was born on Dec. 26, 1893, were also released.

Qi was born in 1864 in central China's Hunan Province and was named the "most outstanding artist" by the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 1953.

As a founder of the PRC, Mao is one of the most influential figures in China's modern history.