Advertisement
China society
China

Hero of one of China’s most enduring love stories dies with the woman he lost for over 50 years by his side

Tale of couple who were separated for over five decades had touched the hearts of a nation when they were finally reunited in 2010

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Yuan Dibao and Danny Li were reunited in 2010 after he sent a letter to her home in France. Photo: Handout
Laura Zhou

A Chinese man who touched the hearts of many when he married the love of his life after being separated for over 50 years has died at the age of 90.

Yuan Dibao died peacefully on Thursday in Xiamen in the southeastern province of Fujian in the company of his family and his wife Danny Li, according to a report in the Haixi Morning Daily newspaper.

Yuan and Li made headlines in mainland media in 2010 when they were reunited in Xiamen after spending over five decades apart and married days later.

Advertisement

Yuan first met Li in Zhejiang Medical College in 1953 when Yuan was a medical student and Li was a Russian language teacher.

Advertisement

Li, who was the daughter of a Chinese art professor from Hangzhou and a French mother, was born in Beijing and was proficient not just in Mandarin but also in French, English and Russian.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x