The undated photo shows Huang Shoude, a retired official from Hunan, and his 136-meter calligraphy scroll. [Photo: Rednet.com]

HUNAN, Sep. 3, 2009 -- As National Day approaches, many Chinese people celebrate the big day in their own way.

Huang Shoude, a retired official from central China's Hunan province, has completed a 136-meter calligraphy scroll to celebrate the 60th National Day that falls on the upcoming October 1st, Rednet.com reports.

The calligraphy work took Huang more than half a year to finish, with its contents covering aspects of history, politics, economy, and cultures of China's 56 ethnic groups.
 
The calligraphy work's 40,000 word contents are written in different styles of Chinese calligraphy, including the official scripts, running scripts, and cursive scripts. More than ten people are needed to hold the whole scroll made of 132 pieces of 0.95??.35 ricepaper that were mounted together.

Huang said he felt excited and proud to do his own bit to mark the 60th anniversary of China. He thought it creative to introduce China's different ethnic groups to young people in that type of traditional art.