A series of events will be held in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Tan Kah Kee, a renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader, who was born in the city on Oct 21, 1874, local authorities announced on Oct 11.

The upcoming commemorative events include a symphony concert, a symposium, some exhibitions, and the release of several art works about Tan, who is also honored by Chinese people as a patriotic entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist, and social activist.

Tan moved to Singapore to join in his father's rice-trading business when he was 17. Later, he started his own business, which grew to cover rubber plantations and manufacturing, shipping, import and export brokerage, real estate, and rice trading.

During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Tan delivered passionate speeches to raise funds and mobilized drivers and technicians to transport military supplies to support war-plagued China.

In 1961, Tan passed away in Beijing and his body was buried in Xiamen.

Xu Nuo contributed to this story.