Huang Xuhua, 93, was awarded the Medal of the Republic on September 17. He is the chief designer of China's first-generation nuclear submarine, and known as the father of China’s nuclear submarine.

On November 17, 2017, President Xi Jinping moved the chair in front of Huang in the Great Hall of the People, took Huang's hand and invited Huang to sit beside him. (Photo: CCTV News)

Huang was born in 1926 in wartime China. Having witnessed his hometown bombarded by Japanese soldiers and the lives of his countrymen ruined, Huang decided to learn how to build airplanes, cannons and warships, helping China to enhance its national defense. 

In 1954, he designed and manufactured the first ship in New China with the help of foreign experts. Four years later, China’s nuclear submarine project was officially launched, and Huang was secretly summoned to Beijing. He immediately began his nuclear submarine mission and led a life away from his family and other people for security and confidentiality reasons. Huang and other Chinese scientists lived in extremely harsh conditions and conducted nuclear submarine research and experiments with limited resources. Despite these difficulties, China launched its first torpedo attack nuclear submarine in 1970, only 13 years after the project began.

(File photo: VCG)

In 1988, the development of nuclear submarines successfully reached its final stage. The new submarine had to undergo a trial and dive to an extreme depth before it could be delivered to the navy. The test can be very risky. As chief designer, Huang was the first one in the world to dive to a depth of 300 meters. His eyes, ears and gums oozed blood afterwards due to extreme pressure.

From 1957 to 1986, he didn’t go home with his identity unknown to his family and friends. During the 30 years since he left home, Huang wrote letters and sent money home every holiday. But his family unwittingly condemned him for not returning home and even refused the money. Huang felt wronged but couldn’t explain his circumstances. In 1987, his story was finally made known to his family and the world.

Today, Huang is still healthy and works at the institute. He continues to dedicate his life to the nuclear submarine cause for his motherland.

(Compiled by Xu Zhanman and Zhang Tong)