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Yuan Longping’s funeral draws thousands as China mourns ‘father of hybrid rice’
- Crowds gather in Changsha to pay respects to agronomist whose work developing hybrid rice boosted grain harvests to feed the country
- President Xi Jinping and predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao send wreaths and telegrams, while taxis and buses in Changsha offer free rides
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Tens of thousands of mourners from across China flocked to the funeral of Yuan Longping in the central city of Changsha on Monday in a spontaneous outpouring of public grief for the agronomist and national hero known as “the father of hybrid rice”.
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Millions more paid their last respects at a state-sanctioned virtual funeral held online for Yuan after he died of organ failure aged 90 on Saturday, a beloved figure credited with saving tens of millions from hunger in China as well as developing countries across Asia and Africa.
The scale of mass mourning was reminiscent of the funerals of only a few Chinese leaders in modern history, and the crowds of grieving younger people underscored the deep regard for him across generations.
Holding flowers and handwritten letters, people lined up to enter the memorial hall, Beijing News’ live stream showed. Others laid chrysanthemums at the roadside, while flowers were also delivered from further afield, state media reported.
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Yuan Longping’s funeral draws large crowds as China mourns ‘father of hybrid rice’
Yuan Longping’s funeral draws large crowds as China mourns ‘father of hybrid rice’
Relatives and friends bowed before Yuan’s remains covered by the national flag at the funeral home, CCTV footage showed.
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