<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his respects to Chairman Mao Zedong's embalmed body Monday in a rare gesture ahead of China's celebration of 70 years of Communist rule.</p>.<p>Xi and other top Chinese officials visited Mao's mausoleum -- located in the heart of Beijing in Tiananmen Square -- and bowed three times to the late leader's statue, reported official news agency Xinhua.</p>.<p>He also paid respects to the remains of Mao, whose embalmed body is kept in a glass display at the memorial hall.</p>.<p>The last time a Chinese leader bowed to the statue of the "Great Helmsman" was six years ago, when Xi commemorated Mao's 120th birthday.</p>.<p>The move to honour the founder of the People's Republic of China comes as the country readies itself for a day of tightly-choreographed festivities, including a massive military parade and the release of 70,000 doves.</p>.<p>The anniversary is meant to showcase China's extraordinary rise from the ravages of war and famine to a modern, powerful nation-state whose economic and military muscle is viewed by many with increasing concern. But the celebration comes in a very bad year for the Chinese president.</p>.<p>The US-China trade spat threatens to pummel the global economy, while African swine fever has sent the price of pork -- the country's staple -- soaring.</p>.<p>Months of unrest and pro-democracy protests in semi-autonomous Hong Kong also threaten to upstage Tuesday's celebrations, with fierce clashes between protesters and riot police erupting on Sunday.</p>.<p>Democracy activists in the financial hub have vowed to ramp up their nearly four-month-long campaign ahead of the National Day, which Hong Kong protesters have dubbed a "Day of Grief".</p>.<p>On Monday morning, Xi and other leaders of the Communist Party of China also attended a wreath-laying ceremony to honour national heroes on Tiananmen Square.</p>.<p>A choir of children in crisp white shirts and red scarves sang before Xi approached the Monument to the People's Heroes -- a tall obelisk in the middle of the square -- where baskets of flowers decorated with red banners were placed.</p>.<p>"A promising nation must have heroes, and a country with future prospects must have pioneers," said state-run CCTV in a broadcast of the ceremony, quoting Xi. </p>
<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his respects to Chairman Mao Zedong's embalmed body Monday in a rare gesture ahead of China's celebration of 70 years of Communist rule.</p>.<p>Xi and other top Chinese officials visited Mao's mausoleum -- located in the heart of Beijing in Tiananmen Square -- and bowed three times to the late leader's statue, reported official news agency Xinhua.</p>.<p>He also paid respects to the remains of Mao, whose embalmed body is kept in a glass display at the memorial hall.</p>.<p>The last time a Chinese leader bowed to the statue of the "Great Helmsman" was six years ago, when Xi commemorated Mao's 120th birthday.</p>.<p>The move to honour the founder of the People's Republic of China comes as the country readies itself for a day of tightly-choreographed festivities, including a massive military parade and the release of 70,000 doves.</p>.<p>The anniversary is meant to showcase China's extraordinary rise from the ravages of war and famine to a modern, powerful nation-state whose economic and military muscle is viewed by many with increasing concern. But the celebration comes in a very bad year for the Chinese president.</p>.<p>The US-China trade spat threatens to pummel the global economy, while African swine fever has sent the price of pork -- the country's staple -- soaring.</p>.<p>Months of unrest and pro-democracy protests in semi-autonomous Hong Kong also threaten to upstage Tuesday's celebrations, with fierce clashes between protesters and riot police erupting on Sunday.</p>.<p>Democracy activists in the financial hub have vowed to ramp up their nearly four-month-long campaign ahead of the National Day, which Hong Kong protesters have dubbed a "Day of Grief".</p>.<p>On Monday morning, Xi and other leaders of the Communist Party of China also attended a wreath-laying ceremony to honour national heroes on Tiananmen Square.</p>.<p>A choir of children in crisp white shirts and red scarves sang before Xi approached the Monument to the People's Heroes -- a tall obelisk in the middle of the square -- where baskets of flowers decorated with red banners were placed.</p>.<p>"A promising nation must have heroes, and a country with future prospects must have pioneers," said state-run CCTV in a broadcast of the ceremony, quoting Xi. </p>