Chinese netizens pay tribute to ‘father of hybrid rice’ and top hepatobiliary surgeon on 4th anniversary of their passing

May 22 marked the fourth anniversary of the passing of two of China's most revered scientists: Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice," and Wu Mengchao, the country's top hepatobiliary surgeon. Chinese netizens expressed their respect and remembrance online, honoring the legacy and scientific spirit of the two great figures.

Hashtags such as "Grandpa Yuan and Grandpa Wu have left us for four years," "Missing two stars who have left us" and "Tribute to Wu and Yuan" garnered more than 150 million views on social media platform Sina Weibo as of press time. Many netizens left heartfelt messages to commemorate the contributions of the two scientists.

Yuan, a pioneer in hybrid rice research, was the first scientist in the world to successfully harness the heterosis of rice. He died of illness in Changsha, Hunan Province, at 1:07 p.m. on May 22, 2021, at the age of 91, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

According to media outlet Jimu News, on Thursday morning, flower baskets and bouquets were placed at Yuan's memorial site in Changsha, with many visitors leaving notes. "Deeply cherish the memory of academician Yuan Longping!" read one message. One bouquet carried the note: "Studying agriculture at university, great achievements await! Grandpa Yuan, I've fulfilled my dream to study crop science — I will strive to achieve great things. Rest in peace."

Wu Mengchao, known as the "father of Chinese hepatobiliary surgery" and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also passed away on May 22, 2021, at the age of 99. He established a unique system of liver surgery in China and dedicated his life to saving patients, continuing to operate and treat patients well into his 90s.

Media in China also released articles to pay tribute to the deceased scientists. An article published by Fujian Daily described Wu's hands, calloused and curved from decades of gripping surgical tools, as the legendary "Hands of God" in China's hepatobiliary medical community. Yuan's hands, by contrast, sowed seeds of hope in fields across the nation, tirelessly pursuing his dream that "no one would ever go hungry again."

Wu dreamed of a future without liver cancer. Yuan once said: "I have always had two dreams: the first is to pursue higher and higher yields of rice; the second is to see hybrid rice planted across the globe. I've worked hard to realize these dreams and hope to inspire others to join me."

"Two pairs of hands, three dreams—as long as we remember them, they never truly leave us," wrote the article.