The home, the herbalist and the high school: Feverish interest in Nobel Prize-winner Tu Youyou's background
Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou has become a phenomenon, stirring up interest in her past
In just a few days Nobel Prize-winning scientist Tu Youyou has become a household name and everything about her a source of public fascination - from the school she went to, to the house she lived in, and the Jin dynasty herbal specialist who reportedly inspired her.
In an interview with Beijing News, Tu said the four million Swedish krona (HK$3.7 million) that came with the award was "too little, and not enough to buy half a living room in downtown Beijing".
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But one of her former homes in Ningbo , Zhejiang province has become such an attraction that property agents say it could be worth 150 million yuan (HK$182 million). The Qianjiang Evening News reported the home used to belong to Tu's late uncle, Yao Qingsan, but was now owned by a property company.
The report said local authorities were mulling whether to list the home as a heritage site and open it to the public. "I brought my daughter to have a look at it and soak up the atmosphere," a resident was quoted as saying. "I hope she can study hard and be as outstanding as Tu."
I hope my daughter can study hard and be as outstanding as Tu
The Xiaoshi High School, where Tu studied more than half a century ago, has also become a centre of attention. More than 10 of its alumni have gone on to join the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering, but Tu is not a member of either.