09:55
Yuan Longping, China’s “father of hybrid rice,” died of illness at the age of 91 on Saturday in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province.
A large number of people gathered spontaneously onto the streets to see him off, mourning and shouting in sorrow, “Farewell, Grandpa Yuan!"
Many netizens expressed their grief and condolences on social media platforms.
“He is an elderly man with a whole-hearted love for this land. He is a staunch protector of the paddy field!”
“Grandpa Yuan, not only myself, but also my children, will eat up every grain of rice from now on!”
“Where there is a star falling, there are numerous stars endeavoring to shine in the sky.”
Teachers and students from Southwest University, which is Yuan’s alma mater, sent bouquets to Yuan’s sculpture inside the campus.
The public in Changsha’s streets honked their horns to pay tributes to Yuan.
Farewell, Grandpa Yuan!
(Compiled by Yu Ziyi)
